Hongkongers warned against Perrin Vermot raw milk cheese amid E coli concerns

Hongkongers should avoid eating a French raw milk cheese product by Perrin Vermot found to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E coli bacteria, the food safety watchdog has said.

The Centre for Food Safety issued a recall notice on Sunday night for a batch of Morbier Jean Perrin 1/4 x 2 imported from France with a best-before date of March 15.

The centre said it contacted local importer Chef’s Garden before the European Commission alerted it about the product recall in France and other countries due to the contamination. Chef’s Garden imported eight cheese wheels weighing 13.7kg (30lbs) in total, which were distributed to retailer Feather & Bone in Hong Kong.

It added the importer immediately stopped the sale, ditched the unsold products and initiated a product recall.

“People will contract [Shiga toxin-producing E coli gastrointestinal infection] through the consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods,” a spokesman for the centre said.

“Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people.”