Eel appeal: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow calls on consumers to avoid eating eels until tests confirm their safety.

Samples of eels and eel products have been collected at checkpoints and markets to test for malachite green, a cancer-causing agent.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow said today consumers should avoid eating eels until the tests confirm their safety.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has contacted the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine over the reported recall by Guangdong of eel products.

The recall is a precautionary measure to ensure eel products for export do not contain the chemical. While some animal studies show malachite green can cause liver tumours in rats, there is no evidence of it affecting humans.

'Pig fever' probe

On the Streptococcus suis case reported yesterday, Dr Chow said the cause of infection and source of the pork is being investigated.

Veterinarians have been sent to different provinces to inspect supply units and pig farms. The Government is considering extending the inspection to all provinces so the supply of healthy pork to Hong Kong can be resumed as soon as possible.

Dr Chow warned Streptococcus suis is common in pigs, and people should maintain good personal hygiene when handling pork. Click here for more tips.