The E. coli group in Shagua Oolong Green Tea exceeds the standard by 15 times

Although the weather is starting to get cooler, many people are still accustomed to buying a cup of cool cold drink to quench their thirst. However, the Taichung City Government Health Bureau recently sampled a total of 24 ice cream and cold drinks on the market. One of them, an oolong green tea, had E. coli group exceeding the standard by about 15 times and the number of bacteria did not meet the regulations. After re-inspection, there was still no improvement. The business will be investigated and dealt with according to law.

The Taichung City Government Health Bureau randomly sampled ice cream and cold drinks on the market and found that the E. coli content of the oolong green tea sold by the "Silly Ice Tea Shop" in Xitun District exceeded the standard by 15 times. The re-inspection also did not comply with regulations, so the shop was punished according to law. (Photo provided by Taichung City Government Health Bureau)

The Taichung City Government Health Bureau recently conducted random inspections of ice cream and cold drinks in supermarkets, hypermarkets and cold drink shops to test for bacterial counts, Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria and Salmonella. As a result, a bottle of oolong green tea sold by "Silly Ice Tea Shop" (Xitun Road, Xitun District, Taichung City) was found to have a bacterial count of 10,400 CFU/ml and an E. coli group of 149 MPN/ml, which exceeded the standards of food hygiene management regulations (the bacterial count standard for beverages is 10,000 CFU/ml and the E. coli group standard is 10 MPN/ml). The re-inspection also did not comply with the regulations, and the store will be fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 in accordance with the Food Sanitation Management Act.

Huang Meina, director of the Taichung Municipal Government's Health Bureau, reminded that most tea drinks placed in general beverage stores are kept at room temperature. When people buy them, if they do not drink them immediately or do not keep them in the refrigerator after opening, the temperature changes over time can easily increase the number of bacteria, and the reproduction of bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and other physical discomfort.