Regarding one suspected food poisoning cluster announced on 13 June , the Centre for Food Safety has conducted a preliminary investigation and has the following recommendations for food premises' reference:
| Food poisoning cases |
The cluster involved five males and six females, aged 14 to 70 |
| Location of alleged food premises |
Kowloon City |
| Suspected incriminated food item |
Steamed crab, steamed oyster |
| Suspected contributing factors |
Food contaminated by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Norovirus |
| Advice |
- Defrost frozen food inside the refrigerator at 0°C-4°C is the preferred method. Defrosting in the refrigerator may take time and need to plan ahead.
- Defrost using a microwave oven or cold running water are possible options but the food should be cooked immediately after defrosting.
- The management should provide training to food handlers so that they can fully understand the risk of cross-contamination in handling raw food and observe good personal hygiene (e.g. proper and frequent hand washing) to prevent cross-contamination.
- Review the food preparation work flow to identify the risk of cross-contamination and design a food safety plan to eliminate the risk.
- Make sure seafood is cooked thoroughly.
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Centre for Food Safety
14.6.2022