The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 12) announced that a sample of bottled preserved bean curd was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus. 

     Details of the batch of the product are as follows: 

Product name: 公和荳品廠 — 玫瑰腐乳 (No product name in English)
Net weight: 340.5 grams 
Sales period of the affected batch: September 24 to October 9, 2026 
Place of origin: China
 
     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a retailer in Shum Shui Po for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 140 000 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. Members of the public should stop consume the affected batch of product." 

     The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the retailer concerned of the issue, and instructed it to stop sale, remove from shelves and recall the affected batch of the product. 

     A preliminary investigation by the CFS has found that the affected batch of the product comprises only 48 bottles, 26 of which were sold at the retailer between September 24 and October 9. The retailer has voluntarily surrendered the remaining products from the same batch to the CFS for disposal. Members of the public may call its hotline at 4621 7383 for enquiries regarding the recall of the batch of the product concerned. 

     "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. 

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

Ends/Monday, October 12, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:17

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