CFS advises public not to take in a type of French soft cheese presumed to be infected with Listeria monocytogenes
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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 14) advised the general public not to take in a sort of soft cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade needs to stop utilizing or offering the impacted item right away if they have it.
The item information are as follows:
Item name: St Maure Vieux Porche 45% 200G
Location of origin: France
Load size: 200 grams
Lot number and use-by dates:
(1) C5162104, July 31, 2025;
(2) C5169106, August 5, 2025; and
(3) C5175123, August 13, 2025
Importer: Culina (HK) Limited
“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 due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the product concerned,” a representative for the CFS stated.
The importer worried has actually stopped sales and gotten rid of from racks the afflicted batches of the item. Queries can be made to the importer’s hotline at 2342 3221 throughout workplace 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 representative included.
“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 spokesperson recommended members of the general public to stop taking in the impacted item and look for medical treatment if they feel unhealthy after taking in the item worried.
The CFS will notify the trade to the occurrence, and will continue to follow up and take proper action. The examination is continuous.