Shops in Kwu Tung market place open-air frozen meat workers to dispose of sewage from chicken feet

"Hong Kong 01" received a complaint that the Kwu Tung Market Shopping Center often emits a foul odor, and the hygiene situation is terrifying.

The complainant pointed out that some shops in the market suspected that they had improperly stored frozen meat, placed it in the open air and caused it to stink, and handled the frozen chicken feet on dirty floors.

The photos provided by readers showed that several bags of chilled chicken feet fell directly on the ground, and the female workers handled them with bare hands, which was extremely unsanitary.

Some nearby stores claimed that they had complained to the government for many times, but they have been coldly dealt with by the "dragging words". The complaints were accepted but the situation remained the same.

The FEHD replied that it had dispatched staff to inspect the site for two consecutive days (4th to 5th) and found no relevant information, but warned the person in charge of the stall concerned.

The complainant, Ms. Xie (pseudonym), revealed that the store involved was a frozen meat shop in the market. The store was a major market owner, and it rented 60% of the shops in the market. More than half of the shops were frozen meat warehouses, where many frozen meats were placed. The cabinet is mainly for processing frozen meat, dividing it, repacking it, and wholesale to different branches.

Every day from 2 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon, female workers often pile bags of chicken feet on the ground opposite the underground shop, and then cut off the toe nails one by one, and supply them to the restaurant as raw materials for chicken feet. During the processing, there is no bedding. Passers-by passed by on the ground, and the nearby grocery store was open as usual.

Ms. Xie also said that the frozen meat shop randomly placed frozen meat on the street and placed it at room temperature for a period of time. After the frozen meat thawed, the blood would flow around.

After cutting the meat, the store will transport the remaining meat residue to the garbage station, but it is not properly wrapped, and directly throws the meat residue into the large trash can. From time to time, more minced meat remains on the ground, and no one immediately After cleaning, the rancid smell gradually spread, and the situation became worse in the hot and high temperature, making the market stink inside and outside.

Ms. Xie revealed that her family operates a restaurant at the above site. She pointed out that the stench problem in the market has persisted for more than a year. Affected by the odor, the number of people in the market has dropped significantly. Ms. Xie said that the stench permeates every corner. The stench is unbearable.”

She has reported the situation to the FEHD several times, including in writing and by telephone, but she was only told that there would be a specific reply within the time limit, but there was no reply.

The hygiene inspector of the North District Cleansing Team of the FEHD staff came to the scene to inspect, but said that there was no smell, which made Ms. Tse feel that the relevant complaint had not been taken seriously, and accused the department of using "dragging words", questioning the suspicion of dereliction of duty, and causing the market to be hygienic. The situation has not improved.

The market was affected by the stench, and the stall owners of different shops had complained to the offending shop, but in the end they had nothing to do with it.

The FEHD’s two-day inspection failed to find that the shop received 4 warning letters within two years

The FEHD stated that it dispatched staff to investigate the public markets referred to by the enquiry at different times for two consecutive days (August 4 and 5).

Nonetheless, the officers of the department have warned the stall owners concerned to take all reasonably necessary measures to protect the food, otherwise they may be prosecuted.

At the same time, the department's staff also provided hygiene education to relevant stall owners, and continued to closely monitor the situation at the above site and take appropriate actions.

"Hong Kong 01" also inquired with the department about the number of complaints received by the stalls in the two years (2020-2021).

The department pointed out that there were 8 stalls in the market as relevant shops, and a total of 6 verbal warnings and 4 warning letters were received. The reasons included placing items outside the stalls or changing the purpose of the stalls.

As for the dereliction of duty by the health inspector of the North District Cleansing Team, the department just received a complaint against a staff member on Friday (August 5) and is investigating and following up.

The DH will always pay attention to the environmental sanitation situation of the relevant markets. In addition to routine cleaning within the market during the day, the service contractor also conducts thorough cleaning after the market is closed every night.

The department's staff also often reminds stall tenants to maintain a clean and hygienic environment at all times through various channels, such as the management advisory committees of markets/cooked food centres, and to properly dispose of food residues and to clean up waste frequently to avoid stacking debris in order to maintain environmental hygiene.

+2

The chef of the meat stall said that the cutting of chicken feet on the female construction site happened once or twice in a month

There are shops on the ground floor and the first floor of Kwu Tung Market. A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited the site for two consecutive days. On Wednesday (3rd), there was no large amount of frozen meat stored outside the underground shop, but there was a stench of garbage outside the door. .

On the morning of Thursday (4th), the shops on the ground floor and the first floor were closed, and there was no smell of carrion from the two shops, nor was there blood on the ground.

The reporter went to the company's office on the 1st floor to learn about the situation. A female employee replied that she did not know whether the content of the complaint was true. The above site was regularly inspected by staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, but they only gave advice and did not receive any punishment.

She said that the person in charge was not in the store and had already conveyed the relevant information to the other party, and the reporter also left contact information.

During the investigation, a meat stall chef pointed out that he suspected that the complaint involved personal grievances. He also revealed that the situation of female workers cutting chicken toe nails outside the store occurred about once or twice a month, which was not a frequent occurrence. He also believed that the store environment Hygiene is not particularly bad.

Improper storage of refrigerated meat or violation of license conditions

According to the new licensing conditions set by the FEHD in January last year, refrigerated meat delivered to licensed fresh provision stores for sale, whether prepackaged or not, must be delivered directly to the premises and not retained or stored outside the premises. Such as streets, sidewalks, aisles for further processing or sale, and chilled meats must be frequently stored or displayed in refrigerators with a temperature not exceeding 4°C.

And according to the Food Business Regulations (Cap. 132X), all persons engaged in the food business shall take all measures reasonably necessary to protect the food from contamination or spoilage while carrying on the business or during the delivery of the food. Danger.

Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months.