April 25, 1998
The Department of Health (DH) today (Saturday) called upon the public to cook food thoroughly before consumption to avoid food-borne diseases.
The appeal was made following detection of E.coli O157:H7 in a sample of beef collected from a fresh provision shop in Shek Wu Hui market for food surveillance.
The spokesman pointed out that O157:H7 is a strain of E.coli that is commonly found in intestines of animals. Food poisoning due to this bacteria can be associated with eating undercooked beef. Cross contamination of other food can also take place as a result of poor food handling.
"However, the O157:H7 strain can be killed at a cooking temperature of around 75 degree Celsius for two to three minutes," the spokesman said.
"Hence, public are advised to wash beef thoroughly before mincing and to cook beef thoroughly before consumption," he said, adding that this is the most effective way to prevent infection by E.coli O157:H7.
Investigation showed that the contaminated beef sample came from a cattle slaughtered in a private-owned slaughter house in Yuen Long. The beef was distributed to three fresh provision shops located in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Sheung Shui.
The three fresh provision shops had voluntarily surrendered a total of 380 kg of beef for disposal as a precautionary measure. The shops were also thoroughly cleansed and sanitised under the supervision of district health inspectors.
Staff of the Regional Services Department would inspect the slaughter house and ensure that proper hygiene standards would be observed in the slaughter process in future.
The Department of Health would continue sampling of food items under its food surveillance programme for O157:H7. This is the third time that the bacteria was found in food sample in Hong Kong, all of which were detected under the Department's food surveillance system.
So far, no clinical cases of E.coli O157:H7 cases has been reported.
Public are welcome to use the Department's interactive voice and response system on "Hygiene Information For You", Tel no: 2380 2580 for more information and preventive measures on food-borne diseases including E.coli O157:H7.