â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 22) announced that a cake sample was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus, a pathogen. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     A CFS spokesman said, "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a bakery in Kwai Chung for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 210 000 per gram. Under the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory."
      
     The spokesman said that the CFS had informed the vendor concerned of the unsatisfactory test result, and provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the bakery. The CFS has also requested it to review and improve the food production and storage process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection.
      
     According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
      
     Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action in order to safeguard public health and food safety.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 22) that a sample of rice with minced meat and fried egg was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.
 
     "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a staff canteen on Lantau Island for testing. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the criterion of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25 grams of a ready-to-eat food sample," a CFS spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman said that the CFS had notified the premises concerned of the unsatisfactory test result and instructed it to stop selling the food item concerned immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the premises, and requested them to review and improve the food production process and carry out a thorough cleaning and disinfection.
 
     "Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," the spokesman said.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: 

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited on fraudulent website and phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 22) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin soon, pilgrims visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether a pilgrimage is advisable. Pilgrims visiting Mecca may refer to the DH's advice. If pilgrims feel unwell during the two weeks after returning to Hong Kong, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention immediately and inform a doctor of their recent travel history," the spokesman added.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.
 
    Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS. 

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 22) that a sample of swordfish sashimi was found to contain a metal contaminant, mercury, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.
      
     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Kwai Chung for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained mercury at a level of 1.12 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 ppm."
      
     The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the restaurant concerned of the irregularity and requested it to stop sale of the affected batch of the product. The Centre is tracing the source of the product concerned.
      
     "Mercury may affect the nervous system, particularly the developing brain. At high levels, mercury can affect foetal brain development, and affect vision, hearing, muscle co-ordination and memory in adults. Furthermore, as some international organisations such as the World Health Organization have pointed out, consuming predatory fish species is the main source of mercury intake for human beings. The report of the CFS' Total Diet Study has also pointed out that large fish or predatory fish species may contain high mercury levels (for example, tuna, alfonsino, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and king mackerel). Hence, groups particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of mercury, such as pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children, should opt for fish that are smaller in size for consumption and avoid consumption of the above-mentioned types of fish which may contain high mercury levels to minimise the health risk posed to the foetus, infants and young children by excessive exposure to metal contaminants in food," the spokesman added.
      
     According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit may be prosecuted and is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
      
     "People are advised to maintain a balanced and varied diet. To avoid health risks posed by excessive intake of metallic contaminants, pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children should avoid eating large or predatory fish," the spokesman said.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.