Imported frozen confection samples detected with total bacterial count exceeding legal limit

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 15) that a kind of frozen confection imported from Thailand was found to contain a total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit. A follow-up is in progress.

     Product details are as follows:

 Product name: Frozen Cream Sauce
 Net weight: 500 grams
 Brand: After You Dessert Café
 Place of origin: Thailand
 Importer: Skyfair Trading Limited
 Use-by date: April 29, 2023

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned frozen confection at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. Test results of two samples showed a total bacterial count of 68 000 and 70 000 per gram respectively, exceeding the legal limit.

     "The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling the affected product immediately. The affected product has been stored in a cold store, and has not entered the market."

     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.