Written answers to questions
or contaminated vegetable
Protection
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WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE- TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 1987
9. Dr. LAM asked:
Question: In the light of recent suspected food poisoning cases
involving over 100 people who became ill after consuming vegetables believed to have been contaminated by prohibited chemicals, will Government inform this Council what measures will be taken to protect the people of Hong Kong against the dangers of such vegetables?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:
For the protection of public health, the Food Section of
the Municipal Services Branch implements a continuous Food Safety
Surveillance Programme whereby food, both locally produced and
imported, is checked for compliance with statutory standards to
ensure that it is safe and wholesome.
L.
The recent outbreak of food poisoning cases was caused by
vegetables contaminated with a pesticide called Methamidophos,
the import, possession and use of which is not allowed in Hong
Kong. Investigations have revealed that the contaminated
vegetables came from China. The Food Section has therefore stepped
up its monitoring work at the border with a view to stopping
import of contaminated vegetables into Hong Kong.
Consignments of
vegetables from the suspected source are now detained for
examination of pesticide residues and are not released to the
market unless the results of samples taken are satisfactory.
le