The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced in a statement on Wednesday that it has ordered “Chun Kei Siu Mei Takeaway” (泉記燒味外賣) on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja (青洲大馬路) to suspend operations after its roast meat products, “roast goose” and “roast pork,” were found to contain Listeria monocytogenes.
According to local microbiological guidelines for ready-to-eat food, two sample tests revealed unsatisfactory levels of Listeria monocytogenes.
According to the statement, the bureau has taken immediate follow-up action, ordering the shop to cease sales of the affected products, halt business operations, and rectify its food preparation and processing procedures, adding that the establishment must clean and disinfect all equipment, facilities, and utensils until it meets health requirements and passes a re-inspection.
Furthermore, the person in charge must arrange for staff to attend food hygiene supervision courses to raise hygiene awareness regarding food handling and preparation, the statement added.
The statement pointed out that while Listeria can survive and multiply at refrigeration temperatures, standard thorough heating can effectively destroy it. Consuming food contaminated with Listeria can cause illness, with symptoms typically including fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. High-risk groups, such as newborns and the elderly, may develop severe complications.
The bureau urged the food trade to strictly adhere to food hygiene and safety standards, strengthen processing controls particularly regarding temperature and time, and ensure raw and cooked food are stored and handled separately. Thorough environmental sanitation, disinfection, and personal hygiene practices must also be maintained.
In order to reduce the risk of Listeria infection, members of the public, especially high-risk individuals such as pregnant women, are advised to consume freshly cooked hot food whenever possible or thoroughly reheat food prior to consumption, the statement said.
*Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy bacterium found in soil, water, and certain foods that causes an infection called listeriosis. – Gemini
This undated handout provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Wednesday shows a roast pork and goose sample found to contain Listeria.
