URBAN Councillors yesterday rejected a Health Department study on tainted shellfish saying it failed to give an accurate picture of the level of contamination.
Councillors said the study, which took samples from 50 shellfish on sale at markets, was too imprecise for authorities to refer to in their fight against contaminated molluscs.
A more comprehensive review was needed, they said.
The Chinese University study, commissioned by the Health Department and the two municipal councils, revealed the hepatitis A virus was more common in Chinese shellfish in winter than in summer.
But the study did not include summer samples of oysters. Councillors are concerned about the lack of information and want year-round data on all shellfish, taken from more markets territory-wide to give a truer picture of the problem.
Urban and Legislative Councillor Fred Li Wah-ming said a more in-depth study was needed. 'It is a worry because Chinese people eat a lot of oysters in winter because it is an important ingredient in hot pot meals,' Mr Li said.
