Retailer Arrested Over Face Masks Full Of Bacteria

Customs officers said on Tuesday that they had arrested the owner of a houseware retailer after some surgical masks sold at his shops were found to contain exceedingly high levels of bacteria.

The bacterial count of the face masks, under the brand Powecom and imported from the mainland, was said to exceed the maximum permitted limit by about 22 times.

The masks were packed in bags of 10 and sold for HK$90 at shops in North Point, Tseung Kwan O and Tsuen Wan.

This came as the Consumer Council said the number of complaints it received about masks skyrocketed to more than 4,000 this year during the coronavirus pandemic.

The watchdog also carried out its own tests on 30 models of masks and found that almost all of them provided basic protection during daily use, except one brand called Perfetta which is made in Vietnam.

Tests carried out by the council showed the particle filtration efficiency of the masks under this brand was only 86% – lower than acceptable standards.

The council's chief executive, Gilly Wong, said people should look for products that are properly packed and labelled.

"If you sense any problems with the masks, for example, if they are discoloured, if they smell or break easily, then it probably may not be a very good model for you to continue to use," she said.