XN000022-1984-11-04 — Page 16

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1984

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NEVER USE A CHOPPING BLOCK AND KNIFE FOR CUTTING COOKED FOOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN USED FOR CUTTING RAW FOOD, PARTICULARLY MEAT OR POULTRY;

DON'T LEAVE COOKED FOOD EXPOSED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND RE-COOK LEFTOVERS THOROUGHLY BEFORE EATING; AND

PUT ALL WASTE MATTERS IN A COVERED CONTAINER PENDING DISPOSAL.

+THE DANGER OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES CONTRACTED FROM IMPROPER FOOD HANDLING EXISTS NOT ONLY DURING SUMMER, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE TEND TO BE MORE AWARE OF IT AS A RESULT OF OUR ANNUAL FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN IN JULY AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT THE APPROACH OF SUMMER, + DR PERRY SAID.

+REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE SEASON, UNSANITARY KITCHEN ENVIRONMENT AND UNHYGIENIC FOOD HANDLING CAN CAUSE CHOLERA, DYSENTERY, TYPHOID, VIRAL HEPATITIS, FOOD POISONING AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL INFECTIONS.

+ IF FOOD OPERATORS OR THE PUBLIC ARE IN ANY DOUBT IN MAINTAINING A HYGIENIC ENVIRONMENT OR IN CARRYING OUT HYGIENIC PRACTICES IN THEIR PREMISES. THEY ARE WELCOME TO SEEK ADVICE FROM THE HEALTH EDUCATION SECTION (5-729361 EXT. 35) OF THE USD OR THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT (3-675203) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT. +

DR PERRY SAID ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO FOOD SAFETY IS EXPECTED TO BE REALIZED IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE MANDATORY LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-PACKAGED FOODS.

UNDER THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, THE NEW LABELLING REQUIREMENTS WILL PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH THE DETAILS OF THE NATURE OF PRODUCTS, THEIR INGREDIENTS, THE DATE BY WHICH THE FOODS SHOULD BE CONSUMED, INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPER USE AND STORAGE, THE QUANTITY, AND THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF THE FOOD.

DR PERRY SAID: +DESPITE ALL THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES OF LEGISLATION ON FOOD SAFETY, AND REGULAR AND SURPRISE INSPECTIONS TO FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS BY THE HEALTH INSPECTORATE, THE PUBLIC COULD BEST PROTECT THEMSELVES BY FIRST OBSERVING THE BASIC HYGIENIC GUIDELINES ON FOOD HANDLING.

+ THEY SHOULD ALSO BE READY TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT ANY SUSPECTED CASES OF UNWHOLESOME AND ADULTERATED FOOD BY CALLING DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICES DURING OFFICE HOURS AND 5-717270 OR 3-046957 AFTER OFFICE HOURS.+

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