Spanish firm joins list of oyster suppliers linked to Hong Kong food poisoning cases

Some recent food poisoning cases in Hong Kong have been linked to raw oysters supplied by a company in Spain, prompting authorities to instruct the food trade to suspend imports and sales from the firm.

The Centre for Food Safety revealed the latest results of its investigation into dozens of recent food poisoning cases on Friday night – hours after a restaurant chain told the South China Morning Post that raw oysters consumed by diners who fell ill came from France and were supplied by a Hong Kong company.

The centre said its follow-up investigations had found that some cases involved oysters produced by Mariscos Escacha in Spain. It said that as a precaution, it had immediately instructed the industry to suspend imports and sales of all oysters from that producer.

It added that it had also notified Spanish authorities.

Between February 1 and Thursday, the centre recorded 37 food poisoning cases linked to raw oysters, including 13 from supplies from Seojun Mulsan Co Ltd of South Korea. The centre asked the trade to suspend imports and sales of its raw oysters on February 5.

Another 15 cases were linked to supplies from Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited, both based in Hong Kong.