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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) conducted two targeted food surveillance projects to assess the microbiological quality of ice-cream and frozen confections, and Enterobacter sakazakii (E. sakazakii) (Cronobacter spp.) in powdered infant formula again this year.
A total of 1 100 ice-cream and frozen confection samples, including soft ice-cream, sundaes, ice-cream in wrapper, ice-cream scoops and popsicles were collected from food factories, mobile vans, supermarkets, restaurants and retail outlets for testing of pathogens (Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus) and hygiene indicators (coliform organisms and total bacterial count).
All samples passed the tests for pathogens. As for hygiene indicators, besides the two unsatisfactory samples of ice-cream scoops which were found to contain coliform organisms at levels of 150 and 1 900 per gramme as announced in the Food Safety Report for May, three more unsatisfactory samples were found. The satisfactory rate remains high at 99.5 per cent this year, same as that of last year.
Two ice-cream scoop samples and one soft ice-cream sample were found to have total bacteria counts ranging from 71 000 to 250 000 per gramme. Coliform organisms were detected in one ice-cream scoop sample and one soft ice-cream sample at levels of 540 and 18 000 per gramme respectively. Although the test results of these samples have exceeded the legal limits, normal consumption is unlikely to pose significant health effects.
Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, each gramme of frozen confection (including ice-cream) for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria or over 100 coliform organisms. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment.
"Only individual ice-cream scoop and soft ice-cream samples exceeded the legal limit for hygiene indicators. It is believed to be caused by sub-optimal hygienic conditions under which the food was processed," a CFS spokesman said today (July 26).
"The CFS has taken follow-up actions, including issuing warning letters to the retailers concerned, stepping up inspections on retailer shops and collecting samples for testing. Advice has also been given on personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitising production facilities. Prosecution actions will be taken if there is sufficient evidence."
He reminded manufacturers to ensure that their food products were fit for human consumption and met legal requirements. They should also obtain ingredients, such as milk, cream and ice-cream mix, from licensed and reliable sources, and establish and practise food safety control plans such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System.
As for the retailers and operators of mobile vans, the spokesman said, they should drain off and discard the leftover soft ice-cream daily, and cleanse and sanitise all equipment and utensils every day. Good hygienic practices during all preparation and handling processes (including personal hygiene of food handlers) should be observed while keeping both hands clean.
"Consumers should buy ice-cream and frozen confections from reliable shops and should not buy or consume any ice-cream and frozen confection which has expired or is not in good quality. They should also maintain a balanced diet and avoid eating too much ice-cream as it is generally high in calories," he added.
Meanwhile, a total of 100 samples of powdered infant formula (PIF) of 24 different brands from different countries were tested for E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) and the results were all satisfactory.
E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) is a pathogen that generally causes disease only in people with weakened immune systems. The bacterium can cause invasive infections (e.g. sepsis or meningitis) in infants. Neonates (28 days old or below) and infants less than two months of age, in particular those that are pre-term infants, had low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms) and are immunocompromised, are at greatest risk.
The spokesman noted that E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) could cause rare but fatal infections in infants and had aroused concerns in many countries.
Although the source of E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) is not known in many cases of infant infection, an increasing number of reports suggested that PIF is a vehicle for the infection.
"The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health," the spokesman said.
"For those who are not breastfed, caregivers should be aware that PIF is not a sterile product and can be contaminated with pathogens that can cause serious illness. They should reconstitute PIF with water not less than 70 degrees Celsius (water left for no more than 30 minutes after boiling) and then cool it down to a suitable temperature to feed the infant. Reconstituted milk should be consumed within two hours.
"Reconstituted milk that is not for immediate consumption should be cooled soon after preparation and stored in a refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius or below. It should be consumed within 24 hours. The refrigerated bottle feed should be re-warmed immediately before feeding for no more than 15 minutes by placing it in a container of warm water (water level below the top of the bottle) with occasional shaking or swirling during the process.
"If breastfeeding is not feasible for infants at high risk of E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) infection, caregivers are encouraged to use commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid formula for the infants," he added.
The spokesman advised manufacturers to implement effective preventive measures as well as monitoring and environmental management programmes such as Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Hygiene Practice and HACCP to reduce the risk of product contamination with E. sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.).
"They should also detail the risk reduction measures that the caregiver should follow for the safe preparation, handling and use of PIF on the product label," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:38
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