While waiting in line on Dec. 24 for our Xmas seafood, our local fishmonger was offering raw oysters.

I said, no thanks.

The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 25) reminded the public to pay attention to food safety to prevent food-related illness during holidays and seasonal celebrations. Susceptible groups, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating high risk food like raw oysters.

A CFS spokesman said, “The CFS received referrals from the Centre for Health Protection on two suspected food poisoning clusters recently. Raw oysters were among the suspected food items in both outbreaks.

Upon CFS’ request, sale of raw oyster was suspended on both food premises. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the raw oysters in question.”