Issue Date
2014-07-10
Source of Information
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)
Food Product
Prepackaged Chinese-style Soup
Product name and Description
Product name: Soup with pork lung, apricot kernel and Chinese ham (by Hung Fook Tong)
Package: 400 grams per pack
Best before date: July 2, 2014
Batch number: SU 22018
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Reason For Issuing Alert
During follow-up investigation on a case of removal from shelves of some food products by a local food chain, the CFS collected samples of the food products at the retail level for testing. Subsequent to announcement by the CFS on finding a bottled organic black soybean milk sample with excessive Bacillus cereus on July 9, the CFS found that a sample of locally produced Chinese-style soup with pork lung, apricot kernel and Chinese ham of the same brand was also detected to contain Bacillus cereus at an excessive level. Test results showed that the concerned soup sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 300,000 per gram.
Consumers may suffer from gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming the concerned product.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
CFS has issued warning to the manufacturer and ordered the manufacturer to review and improve the production process. The manufacturer indicated that the affected batch of the product had been out of stock and the production of the product concerned had been suspended for the time being.
The CFS is considering taking out prosecution action based on the test result.
The CFS will closely follow up the case and has taken samples of other products of the same brand for testing. If any food product is found to be contaminated with pathogens, the CFS will take necessary action.
Advice to the Trade
Stop selling the concerned product
Advice to Consumers
Stop consuming the concerned product
People should seek medical advice if they feel sick after consuming the concerned product.
