Hong Kong Launches Inspections of School Lunch Box Suppliers for Food Safety Ahead of New School Year.

FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes

To enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, and to prepare for the new school year, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched a series of operations to inspect licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong with a view to ensuring food safety.

A spokesman for the FEHD said today (August 2), "Starting from July 31 to the end of August, the FEHD will inspect food factories supplying school lunch boxes to ensure that the licensing conditions in respect of food handling and processing are observed by the operators, and that hygienic standards stipulated in the laws are met. Food samples will be collected for testing. Meanwhile, the FEHD staff will also provide hygiene education to operators and staff of food factories, distributing food safety pamphlets to remind them of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes."

The CFS hosted an online trade meeting on July 11 to remind lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices when preparing food and establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system to lower the risks of food contamination. Lunch box caterers can make use of the guideline "Developing a School Food Safety Plan Based on HACCP system (for School Lunch Box Caterers)" to learn more about how to enhance the safety of lunch box production.

Furthermore, to ensure food safety on campuses, the CFS arranged an online seminar for schools on July 5, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and emphasising the need for vigilance among teaching staff and food handlers in schools. At the same time, schools are also reminded to order lunch boxes from suppliers that hold a valid Food Factory Licence issued by the FEHD and are endorsed to provide lunch boxes. Before signing contracts with suppliers, schools should visit the premises to ensure that food handlers observe food safety and hygiene practices.

The CFS has published "A Practical Guide for Ensuring Food Safety in Schools and Childcare Facilities", to which schools and childcare facilities can refer when choosing lunchbox suppliers and ensuring food safety on campus. For further details, please visit the "Safe Food at School" thematic webpage (cfs.gov.hk/school).

FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD strives to ensure food safety of school lunch boxes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Appeal for information on wandering man in Castle Peak

Police are eager to locate the next-of-kin of a man who was found wandering in Castle Peak today (October 14).

At about 6pm, Police received a report that a man was found wandering at a bus stop on Wu Chui Road.

The man is about 25 years old. He is about 1.8 metres tall and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He wore a pair of black glasses, a brown short-sleeved shirt, black trousers and grey sports shoes. No identity document was found.

The man, sustaining no superficial injuries, was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for check-up.

Police urge his relatives or anyone who has information, to contact any police station or the officers of Castle Peak Division on 3661 5900 or 3661 5925 or email to do-rr-4-cpkdiv@police.gov.hk.

Appeal for information on wandering man in Castle Peak Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases