appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Kahon Chan

Beetroot salad served on two Cathay Pacific flights from Nepal could have been the cause of food poisoning that struck 43 passengers earlier this month, Hong Kong authorities revealed on Friday, although the carrier said all of the samples it had tested showed no sign of contamination.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) also said it had ordered the Hong Kong-based in-flight catering provider to stop supplying the salad as preparation involved processes that required direct hand contact and “might increase the risk of contamination”.
Ambulances were sent to Hong Kong airport on both January 7 and 8 when CX640 flights arrived from Kathmandu after numerous passengers reported symptoms of food poisoning. None of them required hospitalisation.
Following an investigation, the centre said 22 male and 21 female passengers, aged 11 to 75, developed vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, symptoms that were consistent with food poisoning caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
“The investigation revealed that all 43 affected passengers had consumed food served on board the aircraft and they had not eaten any other common food before boarding,” the centre said.
“The beetroot salad served on board was the only food item that was statistically significantly associated with developing disease, suggesting that the consumption of beetroot salad was a risk factor for the disease.
“Based on the results of the investigation, the CHP did not rule out that the food poisoning clusters were caused by beetroot salad contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.”
But the centre noted that a test of two undistributed meals, which included the salad, from the two flights showed that the trace of Staphylococcus aureus did not exceed food safety standards. About 500 servings of the same meal had been loaded onto the two flights.
The city’s flag carrier, echoing the findings, said it found no signs of contamination after testing 57 samples at its laboratory.
“Cathay Pacific confirms that this salad is not served on any of our other flights. Aside from these two cases, there have not been any similar instances of customers experiencing symptoms of suspected food poisoning on any of our recent flights,” it said.
But the centre noted that two inspections at the Hong Kong-based in-flight meal caterer found that the preparation of the beetroot salad involved a number of steps that required direct hand contact with the food, which “might increase the risk of contamination with Staphylococcus aureus”.
It also ordered the caterer to stop supplying the beetroot salad.
The meal provider has been advised to minimise direct hand contact with food ingredients as far as possible by using utensils and equipment, while workers should strictly adhere to hand hygiene guidelines, especially when they handle food items that do not require further cooking.
The airline also reiterated that it took food safety very seriously, stressing that the beetroot salad was no longer served on its flights.
“We have already taken additional measures to reinforce our end-to-end food-handling process and staff training to further strengthen food hygiene, including adopting all recommendations made by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health,” it said.


Cathay Pacific retains third-best airline title, wins cabin crew and lounge awards

Hong Kong targets 240 air destinations by 2030, eyeing new Uzbekistan routes

Hong Kong’s new training visa could be available in first quarter of 2027

Hong Kong finance chief urges Cathay to keep fares attractive, add routes

Cathay Pacific

Beetroot salad ‘risk factor’ in Cathay food poisoning cases, Hong Kong says

Cathay Pacific says the beetroot salad is not served on any of its other flights. Photo: Sam Tsang

How can Hong Kong travellers, airlines avoid food poisoning after Cathay cases?

The safety of meals served on the city’s airlines is monitored under the “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point” system, which is overseen by the Centre for Food Safety. Photo: Shutterstock

Passengers who suffered food poisoning are taken to North Lantau Hospital. Photo: Handout

Cathay passengers flying to Hong Kong hit by food poisoning, preflight meal blamed

A spokeswoman for Cathay said cabin crew provided assistance to the passengers and consulted medical advice according to standard procedures. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong’s Cathay apologises after second suspected food poisoning

A Cathay spokeswoman has said it appeared the source of food contamination was outside the airline’s operation. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Society

43 passengers on two flights were affected but Cathay Pacific says all of the samples it tested showed no sign of contamination


43 passengers on two flights were affected but Cathay Pacific says all of the samples it tested showed no sign of contamination.


Beetroot salad ‘risk factor’ in Cathay food poisoning cases, Hong Kong says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}43 passengers on two flights were affected but Cathay Pacific says all of the samples it tested showed no sign of contamination

43 passengers on two flights were affected but Cathay Pacific says all of the samples it tested showed no sign of contamination