Excess bacteria in cakes

By Liang Yiwen  |   2009-1-20  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CREAM cakes sold at Christine, Marco Polo and Pucci Bakery failed a food test because they contain high levels of bacteria, the local market watchdog announced yesterday.

In November, inspectors bought a cake at random at each of the 20 stores.

The Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection said they were tested for melamine, heavy metal and preservatives among other things.

Cakes at Christine, Marco Polo and Pucci were found to contain high levels of coliforms or colon bacillus, officials said.

Coliforms are not the cause of food poisoning, but their presence suggests organisms of fecal origin may be present, which can cause cases of food poisoning.

The commission asked the stores that failed tests to improve their products.

All the other 17 cakes passed the tests.

Officials with the commission said cream cake makers had made great progress.

In November 2007, 10 out of 18 types of cream cakes failed an inspection carried out by the local consumers' rights watchdog.

The problems then involved excessive bacteria and the size of the cakes.