Hong Kong ice cream vendor ordered to stop sales after bacteria found 3x limit
Soft ice cream sample had 310 coliform bacteria per gram, three times legal limit.
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, through its Centre for Food Safety, issued a stop-sale order to a licensed mobile ice cream vendor in Central after routine testing revealed excessive coliform bacteria levels. A sample of the vendor's soft ice cream contained 310 coliform bacteria per gram, more than three times the maximum permitted level of 100 per gram under the Frozen Confections Regulation. The watchdog informed the licence holder of the irregularity and ordered immediate cessation of sales, disposal of all affected products, and thorough disinfection of the ice cream van.
Beyond the immediate corrective actions, authorities also mandated that the person in charge receive food safety and hygiene education to prevent recurrence. A spokesman clarified that while the coliform count indicated unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, it did not necessarily mean consumption would lead to food poisoning. The identity of the vendor was not made public by officials, and no further enforcement details were provided. The incident highlights ongoing scrutiny of street food vendors in Hong Kong's Central district.
- Soft ice cream sample had 310 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit of 100 per gram.
- The vendor was ordered to stop selling, dispose of all affected products, and disinfect the van.
- Authorities also required food safety education for the person in charge; vendor identity was not disclosed.
Why It Matters
This enforcement shows Hong Kong's strict food safety standards for mobile vendors, impacting public health trust in street food.