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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 7) announced that a sample of rice with roasted pork and salted duck egg taken from a restaurant in Sheung Wan was found to contain an excessive amount of coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms. The CFS will continue to follow up on the case.
A CFS spokesman said, "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS took the above-mentioned rice sample at the restaurant for testing. Result showed that the sample contained coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms at a level of 26 000 per gram. Under the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if each gram of ready-to-eat food contains more than 10 000 coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms, it is considered unsatisfactory, i.e. potentially injurious to health and/or unfit for human consumption.
According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
"Coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms can produce enterotoxins that cause food poisoning. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often accompanied by diarrhoea," he added.
The CFS has informed the restaurant operator of the test result and provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the operator and staff of the restaurant. A follow-up sample has been taken for testing. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
Ends/Thursday, May 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:24
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