May 4, 1998
The Department of Health today (Monday) advised the public against eating pig lung, liver and kidney for the time being as the Department detected traces of a drug, Clenbuterol -- a Beta-agonist, in pig lung collected for testing as part of its food surveillance programme.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "Consumption of food with this substance can cause palpitation, headache, hand tremor and dizziness. In general, the onset of sickness is around one hour after consumption and symptoms are transient with patients recovering fully."
The Department stepped up testing of this drug in pig lung, liver, kidney, pork and other meat items on sale in the markets following a suspected incident in April involving nine persons showing the above symptoms after consumption of pig lung soup. They recovered soon afterwards.
Results of 40 samples now available indicate that eight out of 14 samples of pig lung tested positive for Clenbuterol. So far, there is no evidence that pork, beef or mutton are affected.
The levels of Clenbuterol detected were not high. They ranged between one microgram per kilogram and 24 micrograms per kilogram. Documented clinical experience shows that it requires concentrations of over 100 micrograms per kilogram to cause food poisoning. Nonetheless, the levels detected are not acceptable.
Although only pig lung samples had tested positive, overseas clinical experience shows that kidney and liver are the other organs in which a high level of Clenbuterol residue can be found.
The spokesman stressed that it is safe to eat pork.
Discussion with the Mainland authorities confirmed that Beta-agonists, including Clenbuterol, are not allowed to be used in feed for food animals.
Nevertheless, the Mainland authorities are conducting investigations and if any farms are suspected to be using such substance, they will be stopped from supplying pigs to Hong Kong.
At their own initiative, the Mainland authorities through their exporting agents have arranged with meat traders in Hong Kong to stop the supply of pig lung, liver and kidney for sale.
In addition, the two municipal services departments would make arrangements in local slaughter houses to separate and dispose of pig lung, liver and kidney when pigs are slaughtered.
The two departments were visiting all market stalls and fresh provision shops asking meat retailers to voluntarily withdraw these items from sale. Similar visits would be made to restaurants to advise them to withdraw them from their menus.
The spokesman pointed out that according to experience in other countries, the presence of Clenbuterol in offal can be associated with the use of animal feed that contain the substance.
Clenbuterol is a drug which can be used for treating asthma. It is not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance in Hong Kong and its use in animal feed is illegal.
Surveillance exercises on Beta-agonists in meat have been carried out by the Department of Health in the past, following reports of such incidents in other countries. All meat and offal samples analysed were tested negative.
Since 1994, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) had repeatedly warned farmers and feed traders not to use this substance for feed.
In the light of the recent findings in Hong Kong, to safeguard public health, the Government would increase testing for Clenbuterol in the food surveillance programme and continue regular inspections of local farms to monitor the use of animal feed.