Coliform found in ice cream

BE careful about what you eat this summer.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) on May 23 said that an ice cream sample from Yuen Long was found to contain coliform organisms exceeding the legal limit.

“Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected a sample of ice cream in chocolate and sweet potato flavour from a retail outlet with a frozen confections permit in Yuen Long for testing,” said a spokesman for the CFS, which is under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

“The test result showed that the sample contained 1,100 coliform organisms per gram, exceeding the legal limit,” he added.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation, each gram of frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform organisms.

The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction, the CFS said.

“The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling the affected ice cream immediately,” the spokesman said.

“The Centre will also provide health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor concerned, and has requested the vendor to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection,” he said.

“Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated,” he added.