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With the recent outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by norovirus in Japan, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 27) appealed to the public and the food trade to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent the viral infection.
A department spokesman said consumption of raw or inadequately cooked foods, in particular shellfish such as oysters, posed a high risk of norovirus infection.
Following is some useful advice to the trade:
* All food, especially shellfish, should be purchased from reliable suppliers;
* Food and environmental hygiene of the food premises should be properly maintained. Cross-contamination of raw and cooked foods should be prevented;
* Food handlers should wash hands thoroughly before handling foods or after using toilets;
* Food handlers with symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea should stop handling food and seek medical advice.
Following is some useful advice to the public:
* The elderly, infants, pregnant women and people with lowered immunity should avoid eating raw or inadequately cooked food;
* All food, in particular shellfish, should be cooked thoroughly before consumption;
* Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after using toilet, before handling food or before eating.
"A letter reminding the trade of the food safety guidelines on prevention of norovirus infection will be issued," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:35
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