Frozen food imports test Covid-19 +ve in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: Samples from packing of imported frozen beef from Brazil and frozen pork skin from Poland tested positive, Hong Kong authorities informed and added that screening on imported food would be tightened, Reuters reported.

Thirty-six samples were collected by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) from a load of 1,100 cartons of frozen beef from Brazil. The outer packaging and two inner packagings tested positive. CFS collected 12 from 300 cartons of pork skin from Polland, and one inner packing tested positive.

The imported pork and beef were ordered to dispose of by CFS, a government statement informed on Monday. After Honk Kong started monitoring overseas shipments from mid-2020, it had found positive samples on pomfret fish packaging in August 2021 and on cuttlefish packaging in November 2021.

However, authorities said that the virus is mostly transmitted through droplets and cannot multiply on food items or packaging. There is almost zero chance of transmission to humans through the consumption of food.

But the public is instructed to deal with raw food items separately, thoroughly cook them and follow hygiene measures.

Hong Kong has implemented the "dynamic zero COVID" as same as China's mainland and is putting immense efforts to eliminate the virus or future outbreaks.

However, a fresh wave is running through the territory, which is not under reigns, and cases are increasing. Daily cases here have touched record 7,533 on Monday, while the state healthcare, including testing, hospitals and quarantine capacities, are experiencing strain.

China has raised several times virus being detected in overseas food shipments and has rejected many imports. But, World Health Organisation has so far not endorsed the transmission of the virus through food packages.