Cross contamination and temperature abuse are factors that played a role in an outbreak of Salmonella in Hong Kong earlier this year.
In May, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health recorded 236 illnesses linked to consumption of sandwiches produced in a food factory with more than 50 people needing hospital treatment.
Cross contamination of raw eggs by food handlers at the factory, prolonged storage of sandwiches at improper temperatures during delivery and at retail were suspected to be contributing factors to the outbreak.
The most commonly consumed items included a ham, cheese and egg sandwich by 166 cases, ham and egg sandwich by 50 cases and a cheese and egg sandwich by 29 patients.
