Health authorities investigate food poisoning clusters linked to raw oysters

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced on Sunday that it is investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting five persons in Wong Chuk Hang.

The affected individuals -- two men and three women aged between 30 and 38 -- experienced diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 14 to 49 hours after having raw oysters at Chef’s Cut located at the Southside on January 30. 

Three sought medical attention but did not require hospitalization. All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.

The incident follows a similar outbreak recently reported at the Chef’s Cuts branch in Kai Tak, which affected six people who had also consumed raw oysters.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the restaurant and its oyster supplier, Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. 

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has ordered the supplier to suspend all oyster sales and distribution and instructed the food trade to stop selling any oysters from the same source.

Controller of the CHP, Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, reported a noticeable increase in food poisoning cases, with 34 incidents affecting 108 people recorded between January 18 and February 7. 

Among which, epidemiological investigation revealed that 30 cases (88 percent) were linked to norovirus and all patients had consumed raw oysters during the incubation period.

Tsui explained that oysters filter large amounts of seawater, meaning pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated waters. He warned that raw and partially cooked oysters are considered high-risk foods.

With the rise in oyster-related infections, Tsui urged the public—especially pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems or liver disease—to avoid eating raw or partially cooked bivalve shellfish.

Citing a rise in local acute gastroenteritis activity—where over 60 percent of lab-confirmed cases are due to norovirus—and similar trends in Japan and South Korea, Tsui advised the public to maintain strict personal, environmental, and food hygiene, particularly while traveling, to minimize the risk of infections.