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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (April 4) appealed to people to heed food safety when enjoying buffets with family and friends during the Easter holidays.
A CFS spokesman said buffet patrons should be particularly careful with high-risk foods such as oysters and sashimi, which were eaten raw.
"If not sourced or handled properly, these foods could be contaminated with pathogens, such as Norovirus, Hepatitis A virus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which may in turn cause food poisoning."
To enjoy Easter buffet, please take note of the following safety tips:
Choosing food premises
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* Patronise licensed restaurants with which you are familiar.
* Before choosing a particular restaurant, take a look at its hygiene conditions and check whether its staff observe good personal hygiene and proper food-handling practices.
* Pay attention to storage and display of food. Raw food should be separated from cooked food, with both covered properly.
Selecting food
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* Pay attention to the freshness of foods. Do not consume food that looks or tastes abnormal.
* Cold dishes should be kept in a chiller or on ice (at 4 degrees Celsius or below), while hot dishes should be cooked thoroughly and kept over a heater (at 60 degrees Celsius or above).
* Mud oysters sold in wet markets should not be eaten raw. They should be cooked thoroughly before consumption.
* Select ready-to-eat seafood such as sashimi and raw oysters in shops specialising in them.
* Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination.
* Use a clean plate to take food each time. Don't use the same plate repeatedly;
* Do not use hands to take food, such as cut fruits, candies and nuts;
* Do not take too much food at one time to avoid prolonged exposure of food (over two hours) at room temperature;
* The elderly, children, pregnant women and people with lowered immunity should avoid consuming high-risk foods like raw foods or cold dishes.
* Wash hands thoroughly before choosing and consuming food;
Eating habits
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* Beware of your own nutritional needs and choose the types and amounts of foods sensibly.
* Maintain a balanced diet to minimise risk.
Ends/Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:51
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