The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department yesterday (23/2) urged the public not to consume a batch of raw milk cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.
Product details are as follows:
- Product name: Morbier Jean Perrin 1/4 x 2
- Brand: PERRIN VERMOT
- Place of origin: France
- Pack size: 1.8 kilograms
- Best-before date: 15 March 2025
- Batch number: 366
- Importer: Chef’s Garden Limited
- Retailer: Feather & Bone
“The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product is being recalled in France and other countries due to possible contamination with STEC. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers Chef’s Garden for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the aforementioned importer had imported into Hong Kong eight pieces, weighing about 13.7 kilograms in total, of the affected batch of the product concerned, which has been distributed to Feather and Bone for sale,” a spokesman for the CFS said.
The importer concerned has stopped sale and discarded the unsold products of the affected batch and initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer’s hotline at 2819 7500 during office hours.
The incident marks the centre’s latest recall notice since 20 February. Other Jean Perrin products were also subjected to a recall due to the discovery of the bacteria. Earlier this month, the bacteria grabbed headlines when one of three Hong Kong doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung with symptoms of the toxic strain died.
“People will contract STEC-causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as haemolytic uremic syndrome may also develop in some people,” the spokesman said.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
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