Category Archives: Food Pathogen

Place of origin: Hong Kong

Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Use-by date: All batches on or after June 25, 2022
Distributor: Polyfood Service Co. Ltd

*Updated on 5 July 2022

All brands and packing sizes (namely 100g and 500g) of the affected batches of smoked salmon products with dill.

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) collected the above-mentioned smoked salmon sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Listeria monocytogenes should not be detected in 25 grams of food.

*Updated on 5 July 2022

• The CFS earlier collected a smoked salmon sample produced by distributor Polyfood Food Service Co. Ltd for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Listeria monocytogenes should not be detected in 25 grams of food.
• 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 like 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 CFS has informed the manufacturer concerned of the test result and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected product, and initiate a recall.
• The CFS visited the concerned production facilities immediately for investigation and instructed the management to perform cleansing and disinfection.
• The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action

*Updated on 5 July 2022

•  Upon receiving the test result on June 30, the CFS immediately visited the food factory concerned for investigation, collected food and environmental samples for testing, instructed the manufacturer to recall the affected products, and gave health advice to the operators and staff of the food factory concerned. The CFS also issued a press release to remind the trade and the public on the same day. The relevant production line of the factory has been suspended since June 30 evening, while thorough cleansing and disinfection in the factory has been conducted.
• The CFS has been actively following up on the case. The distributor, in accordance with the CFS’s instruction, has stopped the sale and removed from shelves the affected products, and has mounted a recall of all brands and packing sizes (namely 100g and 500g) of the affected batches of smoked salmon products with dill.
• The CFS inspected the factory on July 5 again after its completion of a thorough cleansing and disinfection, and collected environmental samples for testing.
• The CFS has also inspected local retail outlets, and no affected products have been found available for sale so far.

• Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

• Not to consume the affected product if they have bought any.

The CFS press release (5 July 2022)

• Members of the public may call the hotlines at 2898 9962 or 6366 0067 during office hours.
• Members of the public may contact the sellers of the concerned products to enquire if they are not sure whether the products they possessed were supplied by the distributor concerned.