Hong Kong schools urged to avoid high-risk foods on study tours to mainland China

Hong Kong education authorities have called on schools to stop providing high-risk foods after more than 100 pupils and teachers who took part in exchange tours to mainland China fell ill with acute gastroenteritis.

The call was made after health authorities on Tuesday evening reported another gastroenteritis outbreak among primary school pupils on a trip to the mainland.

“Schools should avoid providing higher-risk food such as raw and cold food, siu mei and shellfish seafood when organising student exchange activities on the mainland,” said a platform focusing on exchange programmes and operated by the Education Bureau.

The Passing on the Torch also stated that the bureau had requested that contractors for student exchange programmes stop supplying those food items.

Over the past few weeks, more than 100 students and teachers from nine schools on various study tours on the mainland reported suffering from acute gastroenteritis symptoms.