Research Grants Council to present public lecture on food safety and health on September 9
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The Research Grants Council (RGC) will present its third public lecture this year under the theme "Food Safety and Health" on September 9 (Saturday) at the Hong Kong Central Library.
The RGC has invited the Research Professor of the School of Life Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Kwan Hoi-shan, and Associate Professor of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong Dr Jennifer Wan to share their research findings and knowledge with the public. Details are as follows:
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library
Language: Cantonese
Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Food-borne disease is a common public health issue around the world. Genome sequencing of food-borne pathogenic bacteria is the golden standard for food-borne outbreak investigation. Professor Kwan will give a lecture entitled "Genome Sequence Database for the Identification of Foodborne Pathogens in Hong Kong", to introduce the first genome sequence database (including Salmonella typhimurium and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and analytical platform on Hong Kong food-borne pathogens. The platform facilitates the monitoring of trends of food-borne outbreaks and clinical investigations, and contributed to the resolution of the German Escherichia coli outbreak in 2011.
Anyone can be infected by food-borne diseases by consuming contaminated food, which may cause illness, disability and even death. Food poisoning often results from eating food contaminated with toxins. These toxins can be from natural plants, harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals or industrial contaminants. As such, food safety is essential to good nutrition and health. Dr Wan will deliver a talk on "Food Safety and Health: Source and Cause of Foodborne Poisoning", to introduce different sources of food-related toxins and to highlight the importance of education in public health nutrition and safe food handling as a key measure for disease prevention.
Since 2009, the RGC has invited scholars to deliver public lectures. These lectures aim to arouse public interest in local research developments. For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/lectures/lectures.html).
Ends/Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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