The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on June 12 ordered a recall of Starfresh bottled drinking water after bacteria was found in samples of the product.

Starfresh bottled drinking water(Source: Singapore Food Agency)

SFA said that the bacterium strain – Pseudomonas aeruginosa – was detected during a routine sampling of the product, which was imported from Malaysia.

The agency instructed the product's importer, Radha Exports, to recall all the implicated products.

Radha Exports is behind the ABC Bargain Centre and ValuDollar chain of stores in Singapore.

The products that have been recalled are the 1.5l Starfresh bottles of water that expire on May 13, 2021, and the 500ml Starfresh bottles of water that expire on May 11, 2021.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common environmental bacterium and can be found in feces, soil, water and sewage.

It can multiply in water environment and also on the surface of suitable organic materials in contact with water.

SFA said that the use or consumption of products contaminated with this bacteria can cause a range of infections, but will rarely cause serious illnesses in healthy individuals.

It also advised consumers who have purchased the implicated products not to consume them.

(Source: VNA)