MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1985
3
USD CONCERNED OVER ABUSE OF NITRATE
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THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED OVER THE EXCESSIVE USE OF SODIUM NITRATE OR SODIUM NITRITE IN PREPARING MEAT PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG.
A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THIS WAS A MOST UNDESIRABLE PRACTICE AND THE DEPARTMENT TOOK A SERIOUS VIEW OF SUCH MALPRACTICE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN HAZARDOUS EFFECTS TO HEALTH.
DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, NEARLY 500 SAMPLES OF MEAT PRODUCTS WERE TAKEN FROM FOOD FACTORIES, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER FOOD RETAIL OUTLETS FOR ANALYSIS IN RESPECT OF THESE CHEMICALS.
SUBSEQUENT TESTS RESULTED IN THE PROSECUTION OF 31 OFFENDERS THE DESTRUCTION OF OVER 70 KG OF UNSATISFACTORY MEAT PRODUCTS SUCH AS CHINESE PRESERVED PORK, STUFFED PIG'S KNUCKLES, SPICED DRIED BEEF AND PORK AND THE ISSUE OF FIVE WARNING LETTERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE PROPER USE OF THESE CHEMICALS IN FOOD IS GOVERNED BY THE PRESERVATIVES IN FOOD REGULATIONS, CAP. 132, LAWS OF HONG KONG. THAT IS TO SAY ONLY THOSE MEAT PRODUCTS WHICH ARE SPECIFIED IN THESE REGULATIONS ARE PERMITTED TO HAVE SODIUM NITRATE/NITRITE ADDED TO THEM AT THE SPECIFIED CONCENTRATIONS.+
FOR THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, CIRCULAR LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO OPERATORS OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ADVISING THEM OF THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE MEAT PRODUCTS THEY MANUFACTURE OR SELL DO NOT CONTAIN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF THESE CHEMICALS. IN CASE OF DOUBT, THEY ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE ASSISTANT STAFF OFFICER (FOODS) AT 5-95573.
MORE SEEK INJURIES PAYMENTS FROM BOARDS
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APPLICATIONS FOR COMPENSATION FOR CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES INCREASED LAST YEAR FOR THE FIFTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR.
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THE 1983-84 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION (CLEIC) BOARDS, SHOWS THAT 1 328 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED IN THE YEAR, COMPARED WITH 1 300 IN THE YEAR BEFORE.
THESE MADE UP ABOUT 17.5 PER CENT OF THE 7 580 CASES OF CRIMINAL INJURIES REPORTED IN THE YEAR.
/LIKE IN