Hong Kong finds bacteria in Australian UHT skimmed milk
Hong Kong's food safety authority detected a colony count exceeding legal limits in a sample of UHT skimmed milk from Australia. The affected batch was held at the importer's warehouse and not sold. Authorities revoked the import permit for the product.
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety announced on 11 November that a sample of prepackaged milk tested above the legal standard for bacterial colony count. The product, ultra-high temperature (UHT) treated skimmed milk, was imported from Australia under the Meadows brand.
The sample, taken at the import level as part of the centre's routine food monitoring programme, was found to contain a colony count of 10 or more, exceeding the standard set under the Dairy Regulations (Chapter 132AQ). The affected batch has a best-before date of 29 May 2027 and was imported by The Dairy Company Limited.
The centre has notified the importer of the violation. An investigation showed that the affected batch remains in the importer's warehouse and has not entered the market. The centre has temporarily revoked the import permit previously issued to the importer for the sale of this product. Similar products of the same brand currently on the market are not affected.
A spokesperson for the centre said: 'A colony count exceeding the legal standard indicates that the product's hygiene conditions are unsatisfactory, but it does not mean it will cause food poisoning.' The centre said it will continue to follow up on the incident to ensure food safety and protect public health.