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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 2) that in view of an announcement by the United States (US) authorities on the temporary closure of oyster beds located in five areas of Massachusetts as the consumption of oysters harvested from these areas had been linked to several cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the CFS has decided to prohibit the import into and sale within Hong Kong of oysters harvested in the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to safeguard public health and food safety. Traders who have the product concerned in their possession should immediately stop using and selling the product. Members of the public should also stop consumption.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System, learned that the US authorities had ordered a temporary closure of oyster beds located in Duxbury Bay, Kingston Bay, Bluefish River, Back River and Plymouth Harbor of Massachusetts since several cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were found to be linked to the consumption of oysters harvested from these areas. The codes of the harvest areas concerned are CCB-42, CCB-43, CCB-45, CCB-46 and CCB-47."
The CFS has informed the US authorities about the import ban and will also alert the local trade to the incident, urging them to stop importing, using and selling the product.
Common symptoms of food poisoning caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, including diarrhoea, vomiting, mild fever and abdominal pain, usually occur within one to two days upon consumption of contaminated food. Recovery is usually within a few days. Nonetheless, children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weaker immune system are more likely to develop severe symptoms.
The spokesman urged consumers who had bought the affected product to immediately stop consumption. If they have bought similar food item recently, but are not sure about its place of origin, they should also refrain from eating it for the sake of prudence and check the product's origin with relevant retailers. Members of the public should seek medical advice if they feel sick after eating the product concerned.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the case closely and take appropriate actions.
Ends/Friday, October 2, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:10
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