Low food safety prosecution rates blamed on unwilling witnesses despite rising complaints

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department says complainants uneager to testify; critics say system is flawed and not enough is being done

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Ombudsman Connie Lau Yin-hing criticised the government’s handling of food safety cases in January. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 6:45pm, 16 Oct 2016Updated: 1:00pm, 17 Oct 2016

Despite the Ombudsman’s criticism of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for failing in its gatekeeper role on food safety earlier this year, latest statistics reveal the prosecution rate of local food vendors remains low amid increasing cases – at 2.6 per cent out of 3,689 complaints in the first eight months of this year.

One of the latest food complaints that led to a conviction this year was on October 4, when convenience store chain Circle K was fined HK$3,500 by the Eastern Court, after a customer found 208 ants in a hot dog sold at one of its outlets in January.

The Centre for Food Safety said last year’s prosecution rate was the lowest in three years at 2.87 per cent, compared to 6.85 per cent in 2014 and 3.83 per cent in 2013. The number of complaints handled during the three-year period however hit a record high last year at 5,036, up 9.57 per cent from 4,596 in 2014 and 5,005 in 2013.

The department attributed the low prosecution rate this year to the unwillingness of complainants to testify in court and insufficient evidence.

“After people complain, or post online photos [of bad food], some may feel they already vented their anger, and therefore do not want to spend more time pursuing the case,’’ a department spokeswoman said.

Low food safety prosecution rates blamed on unwilling witnesses despite rising complaints

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Food and Environmental Hygiene Department says complainants uneager to testify; critics say system is flawed and not enough is being done

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department says complainants uneager to testify; critics say system is flawed and not enough is being done