Society

HK recalls suspected contaminated meat products

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-02 22:05

HONG KONG - The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong Monday advised the public not to eat 19 ready-to-eat cooked meat products which may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria.

The manufacturer of the affected products is G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd of Canada, according to the CFS which received notification from the Canadian authorities on Monday that the manufacturer was recalling the affected products, some of which had been exported to Hong Kong.

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The importer, Park'N Shop, a major superstore in Hong Kong, is recalling all lots of the affected products of G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd.

A spokesman for the CFS advised consumers who had bought the affected products not to consume them, or if they had eaten the products to seek medical advice if they felt sick afterwards.

Salmonella is a pathogen that may cause food poisoning. The symptoms include nausea, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. The symptoms are more severe in infants and the elderly.

Symptoms after exposure to Listeria monocytogenes may include fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhea. Healthy individuals rarely develop symptoms. The effects on pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weak immunity, however, could be severe, and could include miscarriage and meningitis.

"The CFS has not received any notification of a food poisoning case related to the consumption of the concerned products. The CFS has alerted the trade to stop selling the products concerned and is communicating with the Canadian authorities to closely monitor the situation," the spokesman said.