The collection of foodborne outbreaks in Hong Kong declined this previous yr, in keeping with not too long ago launched figures.
Statistics duvet outbreaks associated with meals premises and companies that had been reported to the Centre for Meals Protection (CFS) of the Meals and Environmental Hygiene Division in 2021.
The CFS gained 199 referrals of outbreaks that affected 608 other people in comparison to 229 outbreaks with 632 sufferers in 2020.
Vibrio climbs above Salmonella
Bacterial foodborne brokers remained the main motive and had been in the back of two thirds of outbreaks in 2021. Vibrio parahaemolyticus overtook Salmonella as the highest agent chargeable for sicknesses. Different reasons had been Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens.
Viruses accounted for greater than 1 / 4 of meals poisoning outbreaks, all being norovirus. A couple of incidents had been related to toxic mushrooms and ciguatera.
Contamination through uncooked meals, intake of uncooked meals and insufficient cooking had been essentially the most steadily known contributing components.
The collection of outbreaks and other people ill has been stable in Hong Kong for the previous 3 years.
“In 2021, lapses in meals protection practices relating to uncooked oysters resulted in quite a few outbreaks which added considerably to the toll. This illustrates that lapses in hygiene practices through a small sector of the industry can impact numerous customers.”
Uncooked oyster center of attention
The CFS spotted an building up in outbreaks traced to uncooked oysters in 2021 with 101 epidemics and 326 sufferers. The five-year reasonable used to be 24 outbreaks in line with yr in 2016 to 2020. Garage temperature and rainy garage had been the principle problems known.
The biggest cluster incorporated 32 related outbreaks involving a cafe and affecting 99 other people in October 2021. The infections had been led to through Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
An investigation printed fridges for ready-to-eat seafood on the eating place had been faulty. In step with body of workers, the fridges have been malfunctioning for 2 to a few days sooner than the date of intake discussed through affected other people. The temperature used to be upper than 4 levels C (39.2 levels F). Fridges had been additionally overfilled with meals, which could have affected cooling skill.
Rainy garage of uncooked oysters, together with blending and striking oysters of various origins in the similar tank, used to be known in quite a few outbreaks. Rainy garage is the storing reside shellfish briefly through submerging the beneath water or spraying them with water and the apply isn’t recommended through government in different nations after oysters were packed.
The CFS mentioned that uncooked oysters will have to handiest be eaten in or received from authorized premises. The general public will have to no longer devour oysters uncooked which can be meant for intake after cooking. The company additionally reminded trade of the significance of hygiene and to not apply rainy garage of uncooked oysters.
In December, the Centre for Meals Protection and environmental hygiene department of the Meals and Environmental Hygiene Division (FEHD) enhanced inspections at authorized meals premises around the territory to verify oysters to be eaten uncooked had been saved at the right kind temperature.
Caution letters had been issued at two meals factories suspected of breaching licensing stipulations through conserving uncooked oysters at an unsuitable temperature. The principles state all oysters waiting for intake should be stored in a fridge or compartment of a refrigerator separated from different meals pieces at a temperature between 0 and four levels C (32 to 39.2 levels F).
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