The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a case of food poisoning involving three people who fell ill after eating vegetables contaminated by agricultural pesticide.

The two men and a woman, aged 39 to 72, developed symptoms of severe dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea about 15 to 30 minutes after consuming fried choi sum during dinner at home on March 3.

The case had been referred to the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up action.

To prevent food poisoning by pesticide-contaminated vegetables:

* do not buy vegetables with an obvious strange smell;

* wash vegetables well before cooking;

* dip vegetables into clean water for one hour to allow pesticide to leach out;

* blanch in boiling water and pour away the water used for blanching as it may contain dissolved pesticides;

* cook thoroughly before consumption; and,

* do not patronise unlicensed hawkers.