​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, upon recent notification by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of food poisoning cases, conducted investigations at both the restaurant and supplier levels, and found that the cases involved consumption of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters supplied by Jinhwa Susan Co Ltd from Korea."

     The CFS has also instructed the supplier and restaurants concerned to stop supplying and selling the affected raw oysters immediately, and is tracing the distribution of the affected product. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

     The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

     The CFS has informed the Korean authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, February 29, 2024
Issued at HKT 20:30

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