CFS Warns Against Consuming French Cheese Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

2026-08-21 18:53 Last Updated At：19:08

CFS urges public not to consume batch of French cheese suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 21) urged the public not to consume a batch of cheese originated from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.

The product details are as follows:

Product name: Brie Mon Sire 1KG

Place of origin: France

Lot number: CZDI2

Use-by date: November 10, 2026

Importer: Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Limited

"The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product was possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Enquiries can be made to the importer's hotline at 3145 7819 during office hours.

"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 such as 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 spokesman added.

"In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish."

The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

FEHD Releases August Gravidtrap and Density Indexes for Aedes Albopictus in 13 Survey Areas

FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 21) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 13 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Kowloon City

Kai Tak

22.9%

1.0

Kwun Tong

Kowloon Bay

9.4%

1.2

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun West

4.0%

1.0

District

Survey Area

August 2026

Area Gravidtrap Index

Area Density Index

Eastern

Chai Wan

12.2%

1.0

Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho

10.7%

1.1

Southern

Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay

3.3%

1.0

Kowloon City

Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan

15.0%

1.5

Kowloon Tong

9.0%

1.4

Kwun Tong

Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping

26.4%

1.4

Wong Tai Sin

Diamond Hill and Tsz Wan Shan

13.4%

1.0

Sha Tin

Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan

8.6%

2.0

Tai Po

Tai Po East

3.9%

1.0

Kwai Tsing

Tsing Yi North

11.7%

1.4

During the rainy season, the FEHD continues to carry out a series of mosquito prevention and elimination measures, including:

interdepartmental collaboration: convening special meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders (such as construction site contractors, schools and property management companies) in strengthening mosquito control work at venues;

precise risk assessments: carrying out intensive and targeted mosquito control work at locations with more serious mosquito infestations, including stepping up inspections, eliminating mosquito breeding and potential breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at appropriate locations;

promotion and education: organising exhibitions with relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters to enhance public awareness of mosquito control and prevention; and

rapid alert mechanism: notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, and advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.

During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at two construction sites, four public housing estates, a private housing estate and a private premises in Eastern District, Kowloon City District, Kwun Tong District and Wong Tai Sin District, the FEHD has issued a total of 10 statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. Meanwhile, the FEHD has initiated a prosecution against a relevant construction site contractor following the discovery of mosquito breeding at a construction site in Kowloon City District.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;

remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;

check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;

change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;

properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;

properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and

scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will colect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The Gravidtrap and Density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

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CFS Warns Against Consuming French Cheese Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

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