All 400 ready-to-eat food samples tested for the microbe Listeria monocytogenes have passed, the Centre for Food Safety announced today.
The microbe can cause illness or even death in pregnant women, newborns, seniors and those with a weaker immune system.
The centre collected the samples at food premises, supermarkets, convenience stores and retail outlets. They included milk, cheese, frozen confections, cold cuts, cooked meat, fruit, salad, sashimi, smoked seafood, sandwiches and chilled or frozen bakery products. All results were satisfactory.
The centre reminded those in the most vulnerable groups to avoid refrigerated ready-to-eat foods with a long shelf life, particularly soft cheeses made from raw milk.
The trade should provide sufficient information on prepackaged food labels, it added.
