CHP investigates two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 2) investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting a total of four persons. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
The clusters involve one male and three females aged between 30 and 59. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 25 to 38 hours after having dinner at L'Amour located at Shop A & B, G/F, Grand Progress Building, Nos. 58-62 D'Aguilar Street, Nos. 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, on January 27.
One of the affected persons sought medical advice but did not require hospitalisation.All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.
A preliminary investigation revealed that raw oysters and salad were the food items that the affected individuals had in common at the aforementioned restaurant. Officers of the CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) conducted a joint investigation and examined the handling processes and food hygiene at the restaurant. The CFS's field investigation revealed that affected persons may have contracted food poisoning from consuming raw food. The CFS immediately instructed the premises concerned to suspend serving the incriminated food items and to carry out cleaning and disinfection of the premises. The officers have also provided health education related to food safety and environmental hygiene to the staff of the premises.
The investigation of the CHP and the CFS is ongoing.
To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:
Avoid eating raw seafood;
Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;
Choose pasteurised eggs, egg products or dried egg powder for dishes that often use undercooked eggs;
Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
Avoid patronising illegal food hawkers;
Drink boiled water;
Susceptible populations, including those with weakened immunity, the elderly, pregnant women and young children, are at a higher risk of foodborne diseases, so they should not consume raw or undercooked foods;
Refrain from trying to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
Source: AI-found images
CFS continues to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to actively follow up on the precautionary recall of certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula in different areas worldwide due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS today (February 2) said that, during its ongoing follow-up investigation, five samples, which were among the 22 batches already recalled and no longer available on the market, tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus today, ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 micrograms per kilogram of food.
Product details of the aforementioned three batches are as follows:
Product names
(Net weight) |
Batch number |
Best-before date |
Place of origin |
(1) |
NAN INFINIPRO2 7HMO (800g) |
53070742F1 |
November 3, 2027 |
Germany |
(2) |
NAN PRO 1 2HMO (800g) |
51670742F2 |
June 16, 2027 |
Germany |
(3) |
ILLUMA LUXA 1 (800g) |
51190017C2 |
April 29, 2027 |
Switzerland |
Nestlé Hong Kong had already initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned earlier. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031 / 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at Dedicated Service Centres of Nestlé Nutrition Services, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the Dedicated Service Centres are as follows:
Kowloon Service Centre
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Service Centre
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
Nestlé Hong Kong had already stopped sales and removed the 22 affected batches (including the aforementioned three batches) of products from shelves, and had initiated a precautionary recall earlier. According to Nestlé Hong Kong, as of January 30, about 159 000 cans of affected products had been recalled. The CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, marked and sealed 233 000 cans of suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products, including those kept in warehouse and those already recalled. An additional 16 suspected affected batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival.
From January 7 to 4pm on February 2, the FEHD received a total of 48 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on these cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health authority for follow-up.
The CFS has enhanced surveillance of the relevant powdered infant and young children formula. Since January this year, a total of 171 samples have been collected for various microbiological and chemical tests. Together with the five samples announced in the CFS's press release on January 24, a total of 10 samples have so far tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus, all were among the 22 batches of Nestlé Hong Kong products that were previously recalled and are no longer available on the market. The test results of the remaining 161 samples were satisfactory. Follow-up investigation by the CFS is still ongoing. In addition, the CFS is pursuing the cases involving samples tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus, and will initiate prosecution procedures if sufficient evidence is available.
The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. Follow up investigation is ongoing.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the 22 affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information.
Source: AI-found images
