Singapore Food Agency recalls two Malaysian mooncakes

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has ordered a recall of two mooncake products imported from Malaysia as tests found ingredients that exceeded regulatory limits, namely bacteria or toxins produced by fungi.

The products are Joymom’s Musang King Snowskin Mooncake, with an expiry date of March 5, 2024, and Fragrance’s Single Yolk Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake, expiring Oct 20 this year.

“As a precautionary measure, SFA has directed the respective importers, Taste Right Pte Ltd and Fragrance Foodstuff Pte Ltd, to recall the implicated products. The recall is ongoing," said the agency in a statement yesterday.

Explaining the recall, SFA said it had detected Staphylococcus aureus in Joymom’s mooncake, while Fragrance's mooncake contained a substantial amount of aflatoxins.

The bacteria and the aflatoxins were at levels beyond the maximum limits specified under Singapore’s Food Regulations.

According to SFA, the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are normally found in the environment and are also found on a person’s skin or in the nose.

"Foodborne pathogens like S aureus can be introduced during the production process when cross-contamination occurs, particularly when good hand hygiene is not practised," SFA said.

It is a common cause of food poisoning and may cause a sudden onset of symptoms in affected individuals, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

As for aflatoxins, the SFA said they can occur in food as a result of fungal contamination and are known to be genotoxic (damaging to DNA or genes) and carcinogenic (cancer-causing), and exposure through food should be kept as low as possible. - Mkini