🧀 生乳芝士與產志賀毒素大腸桿菌🧬 Raw Milk Cheese & Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC)

📍 香港食安警示回顧

2025年9月，香港食物安全中心（CFS）發出警告，指一批由法國進口的「迷你金文畢生牛奶芝士」（Mini Camembert Raw Milk Cheese）可能受**產志賀毒素大腸桿菌（STEC）**污染，該產品已全面停售及回收。

🧫 STEC 是什麼？

STEC 是一種能產生志賀毒素的 E. coli 菌株，屬於高風險病原體。感染後可能出現以下症狀：

• 💩 出血性腹瀉

• 🤕 劇烈腹痛、嘔吐

• ⚠️ 溶血性尿毒症症候群（HUS）：可導致腎衰竭，甚至死亡

🧀 生乳芝士的風險

生乳芝士是以未經巴氏消毒的牛奶製成，雖然保留了天然風味，但也可能保留了有害微生物。常見風險包括：

• 🦠 STEC（志賀毒素大腸桿菌）

• 🧫 李斯特菌（Listeria monocytogenes）：對孕婦特別危險

• 🐛 沙門氏菌（Salmonella）：引起腸胃炎、發燒

🧪 熟成60天是否足夠？

根據美國與歐盟法例，只要芝士熟成至少60天，即可合法出售。但科學研究指出：

• 🧬 某些病原菌（如 STEC）可在熟成過程中存活

• 🌡️ 熟成環境（濕度、酸鹼值）若不理想，病菌仍可繁殖

• 🧀 熟成時間並非絕對安全保障

👨‍👩‍👧 高危人群須特別注意

以下人士應避免食用生乳芝士：

• 👶 嬰幼兒

• 🤰 孕婦

• 👵 長者

• 🧬 免疫力較弱人士

🛑 消費者建議

✅ 安全行動建議

• ❌ 切勿食用受影響批次芝士

• 🧼 清潔與消毒曾接觸芝士的器具與表面

• 🩺 若出現腹痛、血便、嘔吐等症狀，應立即求醫

• 🛒 購買芝士時，應留意包裝標示是否「巴氏消毒」或「Pasteurized」

📚 延伸閱讀

• 食物安全中心官方通告

📍 Hong Kong Food Safety Alert Recap

In September 2025, Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) issued a warning about a batch of “Mini Camembert Raw Milk Cheese” imported from France, suspected to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The product has been recalled and removed from shelves.

🧫 What is STEC?

STEC is a dangerous strain of E. coli that produces Shiga toxins. Infection can lead to:

• 💩 Bloody diarrhea

• 🤕 Severe abdominal pain and vomiting

• ⚠️ Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) — a life-threatening condition that causes kidney failure

🧀 Why Raw Milk Cheese Is Risky

Raw milk cheese is made from unpasteurized milk, which retains natural flavors but may also harbor harmful microbes. Common risks include:

• 🦠 STEC (E. coli)

• 🧫 Listeria monocytogenes: especially dangerous for pregnant women

• 🐛 Salmonella: causes gastroenteritis and fever

🧪 Is 60-Day Aging Safe?

According to U.S. and EU regulations, raw milk cheese can be sold if aged for at least 60 days. However:

• 🧬 Pathogens like STEC may survive the aging process

• 🌡️ Poor aging conditions (humidity, pH) allow bacteria to persist

• 🧀 Aging time alone does not guarantee safety

👨‍👩‍👧 Vulnerable Groups Must Be Extra Cautious

These groups are more susceptible to severe illness and complications from foodborne pathogens.

• 👶 Infants and young children

• 🤰 Pregnant women

• 👵 Elderly individuals

• 🧬 Immunocompromised persons

🛑 Consumer Advice

✅ Recommended Actions

• ❌ Do not consume affected cheese batches

• 🧼 Clean and sanitize utensils and surfaces that came into contact with the cheese

• 🩺 Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms occur

• 🛒 Check labels for “Pasteurized” when buying chees

📚 Further Reading

• Food Safety Focus