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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 30) warned all fresh provision shop and market meat stall operators not to sell frozen meat as fresh meat, or they would risk having their licences/tenancies cancelled or terminated.
During a blitz operation, FEHD officers found a fresh provision shop at 65-67 Reclamation Street, Yau Ma Tei, selling frozen beef as fresh beef.
A spokesman for the department said that frozen beef contained in a paper box was delivered to the fresh provision shop last night. The beef was subsequently removed to several foam boxes for defrosting.
"Shortly before 9 am today, a male worker was found selling the defrosted beef as fresh beef. A total of 10 kilogrammes of such beef was seized and disposed of.
"We will consider cancelling the licence of the meat shop as its operator has breached the licensing condition which prohibits the sale of frozen meat as fresh meat," the spokesman said.
The department will continue to closely monitor the supply of meat at the retail level and step up enforcement actions to safeguard food safety and public health.
"Anyone who has doubts about meat being sold at retail outlets should call the department's hotline at 2868 0000," he said.
Ends/Friday, September 30, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:11
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