CFS urges public not to consume a kind of French soft cheese suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
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The product details are as follows:
Product name: St Maure Vieux Porche 45% 200G
Place of origin: France
Pack size: 200 grams
Lot number and use-by dates:
(1) C5162104, July 31, 2025;
(2) C5169106, August 5, 2025; and
(3) C5175123, August 13, 2025
Importer: Culina (HK) Limited
"The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product is being recalled in France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.
The importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batches of the product. Enquiries can be made to the importer's hotline at 2342 3221 during office hours.
"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added.
"In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish."
The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
Ends/Thursday, August 14, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:12
Issued at HKT 19:12
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