14 people in Hong Kong fall ill after eating poon choi from Cafe de Coral during Lunar New Year celebrations. (Photograph by Eugene Lee/SCMP)
Hong Kong (SAR), China (EPICSTORIAN) – Fourteen individuals in Hong Kong fell ill with food poisoning after consuming poon choi, a traditional festive dish from the well-known fast food chain Cafe de Coral.
The incident occurred in a university dormitory, where six men and eight women, aged between 18 and 23, ate the dish last Wednesday.
Patients Experienced Symptoms of Food Poisoning
According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), as reported by SCMP, the group began experiencing symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea between 25 to 58 hours after the meal. While eight individuals sought medical attention, none required hospitalization.
Poon choi, a popular choice during Lunar New Year celebrations, typically consists of layers of various ingredients like pork, chicken, prawns, scallops, and vegetables, all served in a large pot.
The CHP and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) have since launched investigations into the cause of the outbreak, focusing on the Cafe de Coral location at Kin Liong Mansion in Kennedy Town.
Also Read: Five Charged in Hong Kong After Woman Dies Following $15,400 Debt Detention
Preliminary investigations suggest cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods during preparation could have led to the food poisoning cases. The authorities are working to determine the exact source of contamination and ensure that corrective measures are taken.
