The Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced in a statement on Saturday that it has been informed that a certain product of tofu pudding may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus*.
According to the statement, through a routine food inspection, the bureau detected an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus in a “Salty Cheese Milk Tofu Pudding” (奶鹽芝士豆花) sample taken from a takeaway establishment.
The statement said that the bureau immediately followed up on the matter, ordering the take-away shop to cease supplying any kind of tofu pudding products. The establishment has also been required to rectify the production and handling procedures concerning the problematic product until they meet food safety and hygiene standards and pass re-inspection, the statement said.
The person in charge of the shop has been instructed to arrange for staff to attend the bureau’s “Food Hygiene Supervision Course” to enhance their awareness of hygiene practices in food handling and preparation, according to the statement.
The sample, according to the statement, was collected from “Mutsin” on Rua de Francisco Xavier Pereira (俾利喇街) in the “Three Lamps” neighbourhood. The bureau also noted that the problematic product was prepared and sold directly at shop and was not distributed to other businesses.
The statement said that according to the “Microbiological Guidelines for Ready-to-eat Food”, its Bacillus cereus content reached an “unsatisfactory” level. Based on the on-site investigation, the food storage temperatures and operating conditions at shop were “not ideal”, posing a risk of cross-contamination, the statement.
The statement noted that the Bacillus cereus is widely present in the natural environment. Improper handling or storage of food during production can increase the risk of its growth and toxin production. Generally, consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
Health alert about ‘Hello Girl’ weight-loss product
The Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) warned in a statement on Thursday against taking weight loss capsules adulterated with Western drug ingredients non-compliant with local regulations, resulting in certain side effects.
The bureau said that it took action after receiving a warning on Thursday from the Hong Kong Department of Health (DH) concerning the problematic gel.
The statement said that a weight-loss product named “HELLO GIRL time to show your figure” has been found to contain the pharmaceutical ingredients “sibutramine” and “furosemide”.
According to the statement, sibutramine has appetite-suppressing effects. As this pharmaceutical ingredient increases the user’s risk of cardiovascular diseases, the import of any product containing sibutramine is locally prohibited, the statement said.
The statement also said that furosemide is a diuretic, and its side effects include dehydration, tinnitus, electrolyte imbalance, and cardiac arrhythmia.
The statement said that according to records, the bureau has never approved the import or sale of the “HELLO GIRL” product in Macau.
*Its Latin name describes the bacterium as a tiny, rod-shaped organism that has a waxy appearance. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo provided by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) on Thursday shows the “Hello Girl” weight-loss capsules with Western drug ingredients.
