XN000022-1988-06-08 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1988

FOOD SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, FOOD TRADERS TOLD

AN URBAN COUNCILLOR TODAY UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYBODY DOING THEIR SHARE IN MAINTAINING FOOD HYGIENE AS THE GENERAL PROCESS OF FOOD PRODUCTION MIGHT BE DIVIDED INTO MANY AREAS.

"IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG IN ANY SINGLE AREA SUCH AS PURCHASING, INITIAL PREPARATION, STORING, COOKING OR SERVING FOOD, SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES MAY RESULT WITH THE MOST COMMON ONE BEING FOOD POISONING, SAID MR KWAN LIM-HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL'S FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE.

1.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A THREE-MONTH FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.

"WHETHER FOOD IS SAFE AND HYGIENIC DEPENDS ON WHETHER INDIVIDUAL FOOD WORKERS CAN FULFIL THEIR DUTIES TO PAY ATTENTION ΤΟ FOOD HYGIENE," HE SAID.

"THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN, 'FOOD SAFETY EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS', IS TO POINT OUT JUST THAT.

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I MUST STRESS THAT THE FOOD HYGIENE CAMPAIGN IS MERELY AN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY OF A THREE-MONTH DURATION, BUT MAINTAINING FOOD HYGIENE 19 ESSENTIALLY A LONG-TERM JOB.

"IN SUMMER WHEN THE CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED, PARTICULAR ATTENTION MUST BE PAID TO FOOD HYGIENE, BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAI WE CAN DE SLACK IN OTHER PERIODS, OTHERWISE THE DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBRR OF VIRAL HEPATITIS A CASES EARLY THIS YEAR CAN EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN.'

"I

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL'S ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, DR PANG HOK -TUEN, SAID NEW PROBLEMS OF FOOD SAFETY WERE MORE COMPLICATED AND HARDER TO HANDLE THAN TRADITIONAL HYGIENE PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE TO COMBAT PROBLEMS SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION, TOXIC SEAFOOD, HORMONE ABUSE, ANTIBIOTIC ABUSE, FOOD ADDITIVE ABUSE, CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCE AS WELL. AS UNSAFE PACKAGING, SAID DR PANG.

"IN ORDER TO TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS EFFECTIVELY, GATHERING IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.

FOOD

INFORMATION

"THE FOOD HYGIENE SEMINAR HELD TODAY PROVIDES YOU WITH PROPER CHANNEL TO GATHER SUCH INFORMATION, "

TH

A

/TO SUPPLEMENT

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