Press Release

Update on suspected food poisoning cases

3 August 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 3) provided an update on its investigation into suspected food poisoning cases affecting ten clusters announced on July 31 and August 2, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The CHP has identified five more clusters of suspected food poisoning cases related to the consumption of sandwiches of "Hung Rui Chen" (Horng Ryen Jen) (in case of any problem with the transliteration, the name in Chinese shall prevail). The newly reported clusters involved 13 persons, comprising six males and seven females aged from three to 69. They developed gastroenteritis symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about six to 31 hours after consuming sandwiches between July 25 and 30. These sandwiches were ordered online or through an instant mobile messaging application, bought from exhibition booths in a market in Wong Tai Sin, and a supermarket in Tsim Sha Tsui respectively between July 24 and 28. Twelve of them sought medical consultation and two required hospitalisation.

As of 4pm today, the CHP has identified a total of 15 clusters with 46 affected persons. Among them, stool specimens of six affected persons tested positive for Group D Salmonella.

All affected persons are now in stable condition. The CHP's investigations are proceeding.

"Prolonged storage of food at room temperature may allow pathogens to grow and produce toxins. Members of the public should avoid consuming cooked or ready-to-eat food that has been kept at room temperature for several hours," a spokesman for the CHP said.

To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

• Eat thoroughly cooked food;
• Avoid eating raw seafood;
• Buy food from reliable and licensed restaurants and food suppliers only;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
• Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.