Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
2006-09-08 13:37
Those who enjoy eating desserts in Hong Kong should take special note. The Hong Kong Consumer Council recently tested 34 types of honey available on the market and found that 13 of them contained excessive amounts of antibiotics, with several also containing "chloramphenicol," which may lead to bone diseases. Investigations revealed that this is due to mainland beekeepers using antibiotics to treat their bees, resulting in residue in the honey.
According to the Hong Kong Consumer Council's investigation, out of 34 types of honey sold on the market, 13 were found to contain excessive antibiotics, with 6 of them containing residues of a drug called "chloramphenicol."
Chloramphenicol can treat various diseases, but improper use can affect human health. Cheng Pak-chung, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Consumer Council, stated: "Chloramphenicol has been confirmed to cause life-threatening bone-related side effects."
This side effect is commonly known as "aplastic anemia." Although the Consumer Council indicated that the amount of chloramphenicol in the problematic honey is very small and would not affect health, this antibiotic has long been banned and should not appear in food products.
Media investigations found that much of the problematic honey comes from the mainland. Beekeepers admitted to using antibiotics when their bee colonies fell ill. A mainland beekeeper said: "We have to use medicine, like ketomycin and streptomycin, using human antibiotics for the bees."
The antibiotics fed to the bees remain as residues in the honey, which can affect public health after consumption. The Hong Kong government has ordered a full recall of the problematic honey.
Source: http:/ / news. pchome. com. tw/ cr……ex- 20060908133743390307. html
13 Honey Brands Containing Antibiotics Recalled in Hong Kong
Those who enjoy eating desserts in Hong Kong should take special note. The Hong Kong Consumer Council recently tested 34 types of honey available on the market and found that 13 of them contained excessive amounts of antibiotics, with several also containing "chloramphenicol," which may lead to bone diseases. Investigations revealed that this is due to mainland beekeepers using antibiotics to treat their bees, resulting in residue in the honey.
According to the Hong Kong Consumer Council's investigation, out of 34 types of honey sold on the market, 13 were found to contain excessive antibiotics, with 6 of them containing residues of a drug called "chloramphenicol."
Chloramphenicol can treat various diseases, but improper use can affect human health. Cheng Pak-chung, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Consumer Council, stated: "Chloramphenicol has been confirmed to cause life-threatening bone-related side effects."
This side effect is commonly known as "aplastic anemia." Although the Consumer Council indicated that the amount of chloramphenicol in the problematic honey is very small and would not affect health, this antibiotic has long been banned and should not appear in food products.
Media investigations found that much of the problematic honey comes from the mainland. Beekeepers admitted to using antibiotics when their bee colonies fell ill. A mainland beekeeper said: "We have to use medicine, like ketomycin and streptomycin, using human antibiotics for the bees."
The antibiotics fed to the bees remain as residues in the honey, which can affect public health after consumption. The Hong Kong government has ordered a full recall of the problematic honey.
Source: http:/ / news. pchome. com. tw/ cr……ex- 20060908133743390307. html