The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (May 18) that it continues to actively follow up on a cake sample found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus. 

     "Subsequent to a cake sample taken earlier from a food premises in Kowloon City found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus, the CFS immediately took a follow-up cake sample at the same premises for investigation. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 11 million per gram. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory," a CFS spokesman said.

     The CFS has earlier informed the food premises concerned of the above irregularity and instructed it to suspend the sale of the food product concerned. The CFS has also inspected the food premises again today, provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff, and requested them to adopt relevant improvement measures, review and improve the food production process and continue to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection, and to provide an improvement plan. The premises have suspended the sale of all the food products concerned as instructed by the CFS. The CFS has prosecuted the food premises against the above irregularity.

     "Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea," the spokesman said.

     According to section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, May 18, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:12

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