14
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1984
J
11 828 CATTLE
OF THESE,
AT THE SAME TIME, A TOTAL OF 228 902 PIGS AND 227 GOATS WERE CHECKED BEFORE BEING SLAUGHTERED. 769 PIGS AND 25 CATTLE SUFFERING FROM VARIOUS DISEASES OR INFECTIONS WERE DESTROYED.
CONDEMNED MEATS ARE DISPATCHED TO THE BY-PRODUCTS PLANT AT KENNEDY TOWN ABATTOIR AND PROCESSED INTO SUCH BY-PRODUCTS AS MEAT AND BONE MEAL, ANIMAL GREASE AND DRIED BLOOD. THESE PRODUCTS ARE SOLD BY PUBLIC TENDER FOR AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE. PRODUCTION DURING 1983-84 AMOUNTED TO 2 500 TONNES, GIVING A RETURN OF $5.6 MILLION.
FOOD SAMPLES ARE ALSO TAKEN ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATIONS WITH A VIEW TO
DETECT THE PRESENCE OF HARMFUL ORGANISMS, BIOTOXINS, CHEMICALS, CONTAMINANTS AND TOXIC ELEMENTS INCLUDING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCÉS AND CARCINOGENS. OF THE 1 200 SAMPLES TAKEN DURING 1983-84, 62
WERE FOUND TO BE UNSATISFACTORY.
AS PART OF ITS CONTINUED EFFORT TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HEALTH EDUCATION IN GENERAL AND FOOD HYGIENE IN PARTICULAR THE HEALTH EDUCATION SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT HOLDS AN ANNUAL FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN IN SUMMER. REGULAR TALKS AND SEMINARS ARE ALSO ORGANISED FOR HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND FOOD CATERERS ON SUCH TOPICS AS +FOOD-BORNE DISEASES AND HYGIENIC FOOD HANDLING+ +FOOD HYGIENE AND SANITATION+, +FOOD POISONING+, AND +ENVIRONMENTAL, FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE+.
THE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF STRINGENT REGULATIONS ON FOOD SAFETY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR FOOD-SERVICE PERSONNEL MUST UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE REMOTE CHANCE OF A PERSON BECOMING AFFECTED BY FOOD POISONING IN HONG KONG.
+
AND ACCORDING TO DR R.A. PERRY, THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (HYGIENE), THE POSSIBILITY OF FOOD POISONING AT HOME COULD ALSO BE DIMINISHED BY FOLLOWING A FEW SIMPLE GUIDELINES:
*
CLEAN HANDS BEFORE PREPARING FOOD;
* USE WHOLESOME FOOD AND WATER, AND CLEAN COOKING UTENSILS;
*
*
*
STORE ALL PERISHABLE FOOD NOT FOR IMMEDIATE CONSUMPTION IN REFRIGERATORS;
SEPARATE COOKED FOOD STORED IN REFRIGERATORS FROM RAW FOOD ITEMS;
DO NOT THAW FROZEN FOOD UNTIL IT IS NEEDED;
NEVER USE ...............