Shoppers shun string beans over fears of poisoned imports

Food officials were still trying to establish last night whether Hong Kong has imported contaminated string beans blamed for poisoning more than 80 people across the border.

The retail price of string beans fell up to 40 per cent from the usual $8 to $10 a catty to $6 in local markets yesterday as news of the poisonings spread. Even with the big price cut, vendors said people were reluctant to buy.

Sichuan-style, dry-fried string beans is one of the most popular local dishes, according to food critic Lau Kin-wai.

The food poisoning scare follows reports of an increasing number of cases in the mainland media. A Guangzhou Daily report yesterday said 84 people from five factories in Longgang, Shenzhen, suffered symptoms including dizziness and vomiting after eating string beans on March 24.

In Hong Kong, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said it had stepped up inspections and tried to contact mainland authorities to determine whether the contaminated beans had been exported to the city.

The department said it had received no reports of food poisoning so far. 'All vegetables imported from the mainland came from registered farms,' a department spokesman said.

However, it remained uncertain whether the contaminated beans were sold in local markets.