The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that a locally-produced “soy sauce chicken”, which had been supplied to takeaway outlet Southern Garden on Rua das Indústrias, was found to contain an excessive amount of Listeria monocytogenes, stressing that the bureau has ordered both the product’s retailer and supplier to stop selling and producing it, while also requiring them to rectify their sales process and production.
According to the statement, the product was supplied by a catering outlet, identified by its Chinese name 金櫻小食店, on Rua Dois do Bairro da Concórdia.
Considering the poor sanitary conditions in the two outlets, the statement underlined, both have been required to arrange for their respective employees to take courses in strengthening awareness of hygiene in handling and preparing food.
The bureau promised that it would keep up inspections on the product and the two businesses, so as to safeguard food safety.
Those who are infected with Listeria monocytogenes could develop symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, the statement said, adding that senior citizens, newborns, or those with weak immune systems may come down with serious complications, which in serious cases can cause death.
Listeria monocytogenes can survive and multiply in cold temperatures but can be killed by heating food throughout.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that is commonly found in the natural environment such as soil or water, and may also be found in some contaminated raw foods such as vegetables, uncooked meats and unpasteurised milk, or in processed foods.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the “soy sauce chicken” that was found to contain Listeria monocytogenes.
