IKEA’s Tsim Sha Tsui outlet has halted sales of a frozen dessert item after a food safety test found that its level of coliform bacteria exceeded the standard limit.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said in a statement on Tuesday night that the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) conducted tests on a frozen confection sample from a “licensed frozen confection factory in Tsim Sha Tsui” as part of routine checks.

Tests found that the sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram, more than twice the legal limit of 100 coliform bacteria per gram.

The frozen dessert was sold at the food section of Swedish furniture giant IKEA’s Tsim Sha Tsui store, located in K11 Art Mall.

“The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose [of] all the affected frozen confection immediately,” the statement read.

A group of bacteria found in digestive tracts and soil, coliforms in food can suggest contamination. They are usually present in small numbers in items such as raw milk, meat, poultry or other raw foods.

While mostly harmless, high levels of coliforms indicate unsanitary conditions or poor hygiene practices during food production, according to the CFS.

The CFS added that while the coliform count shows hygiene conditions were “unsatisfactory,” it did not mean consumption would cause food poisoning.

HKFP has reached out to IKEA for comment.