The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 4) that an egg sample from Ukraine was detected to contain a trace amount of metronidazole, an antibiotic. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice issued by the Singapore Food Agency that the import of the above-mentioned product from a farm in Ukraine, Baryshevska, to Singapore is suspended due to the detection of metronidazole above its permissible levels.

     “Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the Ukrainian and Singaporean authorities and major importers for follow-up. The CFS also enhanced its surveillance on eggs from the farm concerned by adopting the hold and test measure, i.e. requiring importers not to sell the eggs concerned until satisfactory test results were available. Preliminary investigation found that a local importer had imported a consignment of eggs from the farm concerned, of which an egg sample collected by CFS for testing showed that it contained metronidazole at a level of 1.1 parts per billion.

     “The CFS has notified the importer concerned of the test result. Under the hold and test arrangement, the consignment of the eggs has been held and has not entered into the local market.” 

     The spokesman added, “For the sake of prudence, the CFS has also suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of eggs produced in the farm concerned with immediate effect. The trade should also stop using and selling the affected product if they possess any.”

     According to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, as residues of metronidazole or its metabolites may cause significant health concerns, competent authorities should prevent residues of metronidazole in food.

     According to section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, any person who sells to a purchaser any food which is not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months upon conviction.

     The CFS has informed the Ukrainian authorities of the import suspension and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) gave the following update today (August 4):
 
     According to the contact tracing result, two more female patients (aged 84 and 85) who have stayed in the same cubicle of the Medicine and Geriatric Ward have been confirmed as Candida auris carriers while not having signs of infection. One of the patients has been discharged while another one is treated under isolation with stable condition. In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, PMH has continued contact tracing for the patients. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
 
     1. Thorough cleansing and disinfection of the wards concerned
     2. Enhance patient and environmental screening procedures
     3. Apply stringent contact precautions and enhance hand hygiene of staff and patients
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     â€‹The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (August 4) launched an operation at Lo Wu Correctional Institution to combat illicit activities of persons in custody.

     As revealed by intelligence in recent days, some persons in custody of other nationalities in Lo Wu Correctional Institution planned to challenge the institution management regarding the basic necessities of life, and incite the sentiments of fellow persons in custody. The institution management immediately monitored the activities of target persons in custody.

     At around 9.40am today, when 59 persons in custody were having morning meals in a dining hall, a total of 21 persons in custody therein expressed dissatisfaction towards the taste of the milk tea, and requested immediate change of the milk tea or else they would refuse to leave the dining hall. Correctional officers tasted the tea in accordance with the established procedures and no irregularities were detected. With the reinforcement of the Regional Response Team and after the final warning given by officers, the persons in custody concerned gradually left the dining hall at 10.30am. At present, the 21 persons in custody were removed from association for investigation. The CSD will closely monitor the situation and make appropriate deployment. 

     The CSD provides persons in custody with plain and wholesome food in accordance with the law. Meals are prepared by persons in custody under the guidance of qualified Catering Instructors. The institution management inspects and tastes the food daily before meals are distributed. Personal preferences of persons in custody are not considered.

     Correctional officers will remain extremely vigilant in preventing any persons in custody from causing trouble by exploiting the sense of unease among persons in custody under the current situation of the pandemic.

     Lo Wu Correctional Institution is a medium security institution for the detention of female adult persons in custody who are mostly convicted.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 4) investigating a case of suspected food poisoning, and hence reminded the public to beware of vegetables containing calcium oxalate raphide.

     The case involved a female patient aged 42, who developed sore throat with swelling sensation, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhoea shortly after consuming watercress at home on July 31. The patient consulted a private doctor on August 1 and had recovered.

     Initial investigations revealed that the watercress the patient had consumed was purchased from an online shop. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     Plants containing calcium oxalate raphide (a needle-shaped crystal of the chemical) can injure the skin and mucous membranes and cause irritation, such as numbness and burning sensation of the tongue, mouth and lips, and swelling of the tongue and lips. Consumption of vegetables accidentally mixed with calcium oxalate raphide-containing plants may also cause food poisoning.

     Members of the public should:
 

• Not pick and consume wild plants;
• Purchase vegetables from reliable suppliers; and
• Remove any plants mixed with edible vegetables and wash them thoroughly before cooking and consumption.

    
     The public may visit the pages on Food Poisoning Related to the Giant Alocasia and Calcium Oxalate Food Poisoning of the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for more information and health advice.

     Police today (August 4) appealed to the public for information on a fatal traffic accident in Chai Wan yesterday (August 3) in which an 84-year-old woman died.

     At about 11.05am that day, a bus driven by a 51-year-old man was travelling along Taikoo Wan Road eastbound. When approaching the junction with Tai Fung Avenue, it reportedly knocked down the 84-year-old woman who was crossing the road.

     Sustaining head injury, the woman was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in conscious state and was certified dead at 11.40pm that night.

     The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after the accident. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries and is required to report back to Police in late August.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Hong Kong Island is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3660 6838 or 3600 6800.