CHP investigates food poisoning cluster
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The affected individuals, including 20 males and 11 females aged between two and 75, attended a Chinese wedding banquet at the Grand Ballroom of the New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel, located at 72 Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, on December 6. They developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea about two to 27 hours after dining.
One affected person sought medical advice. None of the affected individuals required hospitalisation and they are currently in stable condition.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the affected persons consumed several common food items at the aforementioned premises, including suckling pigs. Officers of the CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch, conducted an investigation at the hotel. They inspected the food handling process and food hygiene. The CFS' field investigation revealed that the suckling pigs were prepared too early in advance, and may have been cross contaminated by raw food during storage. The suckling pigs were not thoroughly reheated either. The CFS instructed the hotel concerned to immediately stop serving the incriminated food items, clean and disinfect the premises, and provide food safety and environmental hygiene education to the staff. Food and environmental samples were collected for testing.
The investigation of the CHP and CFS is ongoing.
To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:
- Avoid eating raw seafood;
- Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;
- Choose pasteurised eggs, egg products or dried egg powder for dishes that often use undercooked eggs;
- Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
- Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
- Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
- Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
- Avoid patronising illegal food hawkers;
- Drink boiled water;
- Susceptible populations, including those with weakened immunity, the elderly, pregnant women and young children are at a higher risk of foodborne diseases, so they should not consume raw or undercooked foods;
- Refrain from trying to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
- Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.
Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:55
Issued at HKT 19:55
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