XN000022-1993-10-20 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993

CALL TO WASH VEGETABLES THOROUGHLY

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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED TO WASH AND BLANCH VEGETBLES AND CHINESE FLOWERING CABBAGE (CHOI SUM) THOROUGHLY BEFORE COOKING.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HEALTH (HYGIENE), DR T H LEUNG, FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION OF EIGHT CASES OF FOOD POISONING RELATED TO PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED CHOI SUM.

DR LEUNG SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD STEPPED UP CHECKING AND SAMPLING AT THE BORDER CHECKPOINTS AND RETAIL OUTLETS.

HE SAID FOOD INSPECTORS AT MAN KAM TO BORDER CHECKPOINT YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) INTERCEPTED TWO LORRIES OF VEGETABLES COMING FROM SUSPECTED FARMS.

THE VEGETABLES SEIZED, CONSISTING MAINLY OF CHOI SUM AND WHITE CABBAGE WEIGED 3,500 KILOGRAMS, WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED.

DR LEUNG SAID THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE SITUATION FOR THEIR NECESSARY ACTION.

THE RECENT OUTBREAKS AFFECTED 21 PERSONS FROM FIGHT FAMILIES, WITH 14 OF THEM TREATED AND DISCHARGED WHILE SEVEN WERE STILL HOSPITAL.

IN

TO PREVENT FOOD POISONING BY PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES:

* DON'T BUY VEGETABLES WITH AN OBVIOUS STRANGE SMELL;

* WASH WELL BEFORE COOKING;

* DIP VEGETABLES INTO CLEAN WATER FOR SOME TIME TO ALLOW

PESTICIDES TO LEACH OUT;

* BLANCH IN BOILING WATER AND POUR AWAY THE WATER USED FOR

BLANCHING AS IT MAY CONTAIN DISSOLVED PESTICIDES; AND

* COOK THOROUGHLY BEFORE CONSUMPTION.

HEALTH CARE UNDER EXAMINATION

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THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO EXAMINE A NUMBER OF AREAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NOW THAT THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THE REFORM OPTIONS IN THE DOCUMENT "TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH" IS OVER.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND ELIZABETH WONG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SPEAKING AT THE MANAGING HEALTH CARE WITH QUALITY.

WELFARE, MRS SYMPOSIUM ON

MRS WONG SAID THE TASK BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT WAS IMPORTANT.

/"WE PROPOSE