More than 100 sick because of food poisoning at Hong Kong restaurant

More than 130 people have fallen sick after eating at a restaurant in Hong Kong.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has recorded 138 cases linked to food served on different days at the Golden Lilies International Banquet Hall in Kowloon Bay.

Four clusters are under investigation. The latest involves 18 people, including one male and 17 females. They had lunch at the restaurant on Jan. 11 and developed symptoms of food poisoning including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and fever, six to 68 hours later.

In total, 54 males and 84 females are sick. Among them, 65 people sought medical advice, while three required hospitalization and were discharged after treatment. Patients are aged between 25 and 91.

Illness investigations
An investigation by the CHP revealed sick people had consumed a variety of items, including “siu Mei,” such as roasted piglet and chicken and other hot dishes. The CHP and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have taken food samples for testing, and examined the cooking process and hygiene of the restaurant.

This revealed the roasted piglet and chicken was prepared too early in advance and was not reheated before consumption. The risk of cross-contamination during the preparation process could also not be ruled out. 

CFS told the premises to stop serving all “siu mei” involved, suspend the operation of this section, clean and disinfect the premises, improve food preparation processes and hygiene, and provide food safety and environmental hygiene education to staff.

CHP appealed to people who dined at the restaurant between Jan. 8 and 12 and developed gastrointestinal symptoms to call its hotline for a health assessment.

CHP is also investigating another food poisoning cluster affecting 22 people.

Five males and 17 females aged between 28 and 65, developed abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever about 11 to 51 hours after having dinner at Kyukyoku Do at the Circle Tower in Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, on Jan. 12.

Fifteen people sought medical advice but none of them were hospitalized. Stool specimens from two patients were positive for Norovirus upon laboratory testing. Epidemiological findings suggest raw oysters and crab salad as the likely source.

FEHD operations
Meanwhile, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has obtained a closure order from the court against a premises in Kowloon Bay that had been operating a food business with no license.

The site, at Unit 1B2, Fook Hong Industrial Building, 19 Sheung Yuet Road, had been running as a restaurant without a license since 2019. FEHD had opened 76 prosecutions related to these breaches. Licensed food premises are required to display their permit and a sign in their outlet.

A FEHD spokesman said: “The FEHD has been taking stringent enforcement and regulatory actions against the blatant contraventions of the restaurant in question. However, the restaurant continued to operate without a license persistently. Upon affixing a copy of the closure order at a conspicuous place on the respective premises, the order will come into force at the beginning of Jan. 23 in accordance with the law.”

Unless given written permission from FEHD, no person may enter or remain on any closed premises. If they do it is an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 (U.S. $12,800) imprisonment for 12 months and a daily fine of $1,750 (U.S. $220).

Earlier this week, FEHD raided an unlicensed cold store in Ping Che.

The agency arrested one person and opened a prosecution case for the suspected operation of an unlicensed cold store. More than 27,500 kilograms of chilled poultry and game with official health certificates were found on the premises. In addition, about 100-kilograms of chilled poultry pieces without official health certificates were seized for disposal. 

The maximum penalty for operating an unlicensed cold store is a fine of $50,000 (U.S. $6,400) and six months’ imprisonment if convicted.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/more-than-100-sick-because-of-food-poisoning-at-hong-kong-restaurant/