Soft ice-cream sample detected with total bacterial count and coliform count exceeding legal limits
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A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre collected a sample of soft ice-cream in milk flavour from a retail outlet with a frozen confection factory licence in Tung Chung for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a total bacterial count of 140 000 per gram and a coliform count of 1 300 per gram, both exceeding the legal limits."
Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132 AC), each gram of frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria or more than 100 coliform bacteria. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count and the coliform count exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop selling the affected soft ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor concerned, and has requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said.
The CFS will follow up on the case closely and take appropriate action including stepping up inspection of the vendor concerned to safeguard food safety and public health.
Ends/Monday, October 31, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:10
Issued at HKT 19:10
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