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ĦĦĦĦThe Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (December 7) advised people not to drink Metromint brand flavoured water which may be contaminated with bacterium Bacillus cereus.
ĦĦĦĦThe CFS also appealed to the trade to stop selling the product.
ĦĦĦĦThe affected products are 16.9-ounce bottles of Metromint brand flavoured water (Peppermint, Spearmint, Orangemint and Lemonmint) with a Ħ°Best BeforeĦħ date prior to 2008/12/21(Dec 21, 2008). The Ħ°Best BeforeĦħ date is on the shoulder of the bottle.
ĦĦĦĦThe appeal was made as the Food and Drug Administration of the United States had alerted consumers not to consume the affected products.
ĦĦĦĦBacillus cereus is a ubiquitous micro-organism of the environment, usually found in contaminated food. It may produce toxin under favourable conditions like room temperature. Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting may occur within hours of ingestion.
ĦĦĦĦĦ°The CFS contacted the US authorities for further information. We have alerted the trade and are closely monitoring the situation,Ħħ a CFS spokesman said.
ĦĦĦĦMeanwhile, following reports about detection of potassium bromate in potato chips, the CFS has taken 14 samples of concerned products of the same brands, namely Pringles and Bourbon, for tests on potassium bromate. All results were satisfactory.
Ends/Friday, December 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:47
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