MONDAY, MAY 26, 1986
SECOND, CHINA'S RECENT SUCCESS IN CONTROLLING EXPORTS TO HONG KONG THROUGH UNOFFICIAL CHANNELS, WHICH TEND TO BE CHEAPER THAN THOSE TRADED THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS, COULD OFFSET TO SOME EXTENT THE FAVOURABLE IMPACT ON PRICES OF IMPORTS FROM CHINA RESULTING FROM THE DEPRECIATION OF THE RENMINBI.
THE FIRST QUARTER ECONOMIC REPORT 1986 IS ON SALE AT $8 A COPY.
WARNING OF LUNCH BOXES WITH HOT CONTENTS
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THE GROWING COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF LUNCH BOXES,
SPECIALLY FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS, MEANS THAT THE FOOD TRADE HAS AN ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTENTS ARE NOT TAINTED.
MR JOHN HEYWOOD, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS SAID THIS AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RECENT CASES OF FOOD POISONING.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT NEW PATTERNS OF EATING FOOD WERE EMERGING IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE RAPID GROWTH OF FAST-FOOD OUTLETS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS BECOMING THE NORM NOWADAYS FOR SCHOOLS TO SEND OUT TO NEARBY RESTAURANTS FOR LUNCH BOXES FOR THE IR STUDENTS, RATHER THAN HAVING COOKS PREPARE LUNCHES IN SCHOOL CANTEENS.
WHILE THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE, HEALTH PROBLEMS COULD ARISE IF HOT MEALS WERE COOKED AND BOXED BEFORE MID-MORNING, AND LEFT SEALED BEFORE DELIVERY TO SCHOOLS AT LUNCH-TIME.
IF SUCH LUNCH BOXES WITH THEIR HOT CONTENTS WERE LEFT STANDING FOR SOME HOURS, THE RISK OF BACTERIAL GROWTH WAS VERY REAL, HE SAID.
HE SINGLED OUT AS SUSPECT ANY RESTAURANTS WHICH MIGHT PREPARE FOOD BOXES IN THE MORNING AND LEAVE THEM SEALED FOR SOME HOURS WHILE THE RESTAURANT GOT ON WITH PREPARATIONS FOR ITS NORMAL LUNCH-HOUR TRADE ON ITS OWN PREMISES.
ON MOBILE ICE-CREAM VANS, MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT SPOT INSPECTIONS OF THESE FOOD SUPPLIERS WOULD BE STEPPED UP AS PART OF THE GENERAL REINFORCEMENT ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE USD.
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