Category Archives: Uncategorized

Hong Kong – Updated on 8 Mar 2018 A batch of Australian rockmelons suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

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Issue Date 6.3.2018
Source of Information Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Food Product A batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia
Product Name and Description A batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia imported by local importers, Wing Kee Produce Limited, ETAK International Ltd., Wing Hong Woo and Ming Kee Chan Co., Ltd., between 1 January and 28 February, 2018

*Updated on 8 Mar 2018

Five more local importers, including Luen Woo Loong Limited, Calfruits Company Limited, Wellcome Company Limited, Sun Lee Laan Wholesale Food Limited and Good View Fruits Company Limited, were found to have imported the affected rockmelons into Hong Kong in January and February this year.

Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice issued by FSANZ that a batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are being recalled.
  • According to the information provided by the Australian authorities, four local importers have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
  • The four importers confirmed that the affected product was already sold out. They have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.
  • 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.

*Updated on 8 Mar 2018

  • The CFS has been maintaining close contact with the Australian authorities. According to the latest information provided by the authorities concerned, five more local importers have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS contacted FSANZ for follow up. According to the information provided by the Australian authorities, four local importers have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
  • The CFS contacted the four importers and all of them confirmed that they had imported the affected product which was already sold out. The importers have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.
  • The CFS has not received any reports about listeriosis caused by consumption of rockmelons in the past two months.
  • The CFS’ follow-up on the case continues.  The CFS will continue to closely monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.

*Updated on 8 Mar 2018

  • The CFS contacted the five importers for follow up and all of them confirmed that they had imported the affected product which was already sold out. The importers have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected product immediately if possessing it.
Advice to Consumers
  • Wash and scrub the surface of the whole rockmelon with a clean produce brush under clean running water before cutting it for consumption.
  • For enquiries, call the hotlines of the importers concerned during office hours:
    • Wing Kee Produce Limited at 2796 3111;
    • ETAK International Ltd. at 2487 3800;
    • Wing Hong Woo at 2376 2484; and
    • Ming Kee Chan Co., Ltd. at 2517 2686.

*Updated on 8 Mar 2018

  • For enquiries, call the hotlines of the importers concerned during office hours:
    • Luen Woo Loong Limited at 2810 1795;
    • Calfruits Company Limited at 2368 3668/2620 8919;
    • Wellcome Company Limited at 2299 1133;
    • Sun Lee Laan Wholesale Food Limited at 6636 8014, and
    • Good View Fruits Company Limited at 2884 3893.
Further Information The CFS press release (6 Mar 2018)

The CFS press release (8 Mar 2018)

*Updated on 8 Mar 2018

The CFS has been maintaining close contact with the Australian authorities.  According to the latest information provided by the authorities concerned, five more local importers, including Luen Woo Loong Limited, Calfruits Company Limited, Wellcome Company Limited, Sun Lee Laan Wholesale Food Limited and Good View Fruits Company Limited, have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.  The CFS immediately contacted the five importers for follow up and all of them confirmed that they had imported the affected product which was already sold out. The importers have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.

 

Members of the public may call the hotlines of the importers concerned: Luen Woo Loong Limited at 2810 1795; Calfruits Company Limited at 2368 3668/2620 8919; Wellcome Company Limited at 2299 1133; Sun Lee Laan Wholesale Food Limited at 6636 8014, and Good View Fruits Company Limited at 2884 3893, during office hours for enquiries.

 

RASFF Alerts -Salmonella – Whitish Sesame Seeds – Chicken Fillets – Sesame Seeds – Salted Chicken Breast

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Freetown (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in whitish sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis in chilled chicken fillets from Germany in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen salted chicken breasts from Chile in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken half breasts from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen salted chicken meat from Brazil in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken half breasts from Brazil in Belgium

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Pistachios – Groundnuts – Almonds – Hazlenuts – Bitter Almonds

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 39.3; Tot. = 44.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 18; Tot. = 22 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 49; Tot. = 55 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled almonds from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 61; Tot. = 68 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Egypt  in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 28; Tot. = 31 / B1 = 100; Tot. = 120 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Egypt in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 86; Tot. = 97 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12; Tot. = 79 µg/kg – ppb) in bitter almonds from Morocco  in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 25; Tot. = 27 / B1 = 9.2; Tot. = 9.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Egypt in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 99; Tot. = 135 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Madagascar in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24; Tot. = 26.98 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 21.22; Tot. = 22.71 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds with shell from the United States in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 16.0; Tot. = 17.5 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in Bulgaria

RASFF Alert – Mycotoxin -DON – Ochratoxin A – Breakfast Bran Stick Cereals

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-deoxynivalenol (DON) (1600 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (11 µg/kg – ppb) in breakfast bran stick cereals from Italy

RASFF Alert – Campylobacter – Chilled Chicken Legs

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Campylobacter coli (present in 6 out of 12 samples /25g) and Campylobacter jejuni (present in 6 out of 12 samples /25g) in chilled chicken legs from France in Denmark

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Dried Raisins – Sultanas – Dried Apricots

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-ochratoxin A (12.33; 14.48 µg/kg – ppb) in dried raisins from Uzbekistan, via Latvia in Slovakia

RASFF-ochratoxin A (20.4 µg/kg – ppb) in sultanas from Turkey  in the UK

RASFF-ochratoxin A (21 µg/kg – ppb) in dried apricots from Turkey, via the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Moulds – Yoghurt – Sandwich Spread

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF -high count of moulds in yoghurt from Germany in Denmark

RASFF-sandwich spread from Lithuania infested with moulds in Denmark

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Chilled Beef

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (O174: H21 /25g) in chilled beef from Argentina in Germany

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes – Frozen Rack of Lamb

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (3300 CFU/g) in frozen rack of lamb from New Zealand in Germany

RASFF Alerts -Animal Feed – Salmonella – Organic Soya Bean Cake – Dairy Powder Premix – Processed Animal Protien – Soya Bean Meal

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in organic soy bean cake from China in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. anatum (presence /25g) in dairy powder premix from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF -Salmonella and high count of Enterobacteriaceae (390;80 CFU/g) in processed animal protein from Spain in Belgium

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Livingstone (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Mbandaka (presence /25g) in soybean meal from Brazil, via the Netherlands in Switzerland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. anatum (presence /25g) in soyabean meal from Brazil, via the Netherlands in Belgium