CFS found a sample of growing up formula powder with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (May 31) that the CFS collects powdered infant and young children formula under its Food Surveillance Programme. The test results revealed that a sample collected from a retail outlet possibly contained the heat-stable toxin Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), Photo source: reference image
For the sake of prudence, and as a precautionary measure, the CFS has instructed the retailer and importer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned. The retailer and importer have also initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details of the batch of the growing up formula powder are as follows:
Product name: Aronurish Growing Up Formula Powder
Brand: Aronurish
Place of origin: Inner Mongolia
Pack size: 750 grams
Manufacture date: April 23, 2025
Best-before date: April 22, 2027
Importer: Hong Kong Golden Nutrition Trading Co., Limited
Aronurish Growing Up Formula Powder, Photo source: reference image
A preliminary investigation by the CFS has found that the above mentioned importer had imported 220 boxes of 1 320 cans of the affected product. The CFS has been jointly following up with the retailer and the importer concerned and had already marked and sealed about 488 cans of the suspected affected batch of product. Members of the public may call the retailer's hotline at 2299 3398/ emailcs@mannings.com.hk/ WhatsApp5423 2088 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
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. In most cases, these symptoms usually subside spontaneously within 24 hours.
As a precautionary measure, the CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. According to the record, at present, no relevant food complaint cases have been recorded.
The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The CFS will continue to enhance the surveillance on powered formula.
Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications
The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting today (June 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.
PASS, with a total allocation of $200million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.
The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3million or 90per cent of the approved project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants in relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong that are funded by the Main Programme.
Up to early May2026, over 130projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home.
Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets, $50million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its list of activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.
The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round, and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is August 31,2026. A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. One-on-one consultations are also available upon request for discussing preliminary project ideas or projects in the planning stage. To register for the briefing session, schedule a consultation, or for other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 36555418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
