SFA recalls Mao Shan Wang mooncake by My Mum’s Cookies due to E coli bacteria

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday (Aug 29) that it has ordered the recall of a type of Malaysian-made snowskin mooncake after it had detected the presence of E coli in the food product. E coli is a type of bacteria normally found in the intestines of people and animals.

In a media release, SFA said that the product is called My Mum’s Cookies Premium Mao Shan Wang Snowskin Mooncake (Vegan).

The implicated product has a batch number of 23GBB-400 and a best-before date of Dec 31, 2022.

SFA said that it had detected the E coli bacteria in the product at “levels exceeding the microbial limits for ready-to-eat food” as stated in the Singapore Food Regulations.

Under the regulations, a person must not import, sell, manufacture or produce for sale, “any article of ready-to-eat food that does not comply with any relevant microbiological standard specified in the Eleventh Schedule”.

The food agency has since directed the importer of the food item, Easy Mix, to recall the product.

SFA warned that although most species of the E coli bacteria are harmless, some may cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, cramps and fever.

Those with a weakened immune system may also experience more severe symptoms.

“Food-borne pathogens like E coli can be introduced during the production process when cross-contamination occurs, particularly when good hand hygiene is not practised,” SFA added.

Consumers who have bought the affected product should not eat it.

Those who have eaten the implicated product and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. They may also contact their point of purchase for enquiries.