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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function today (August 7):
Reporter: (About the source of contamination of sandwiches from Taiwan.)
Secretary for Food and Health: For this food safety incident, there are many possibilities. The contamination of sandwiches by Salmonella species can happen during the production, import or retail stages as well as even after our consumers purchased these products, if they are not keeping in a proper way. All these can be associated with the risk of food poisoning. The Centre for Health Protection and the Centre for Food Safety are jointly investigating into the incident to identify the ultimate source of contamination.
Reporter: Does the Government have any plans to regulate perishable food selling online?
Secretary for Food and Health: Yes, as I have said, firstly we ought to find out the exact source of contamination causing this particular food safety incident. Secondly, I am also concerned about, apart from the formal channel, there seems to have other parallel channels for these types of food to be introduced to Hong Kong. More effective means to control and regulate this type of import in the long run is what we should look into.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, August 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:11
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