Rise in superbug contamination in popular dishes such as siu-mei, sashimi, Hong Kong study reveals

Dishes popular among Hongkongers have been found to contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as superbugs, at a higher rate this year, according to a study released by the Centre for Health Protection.

The centre on Thursday also published its findings from a survey conducted last year that revealed a lack of public awareness about the use of antibiotics and the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

The agency reported that 35 per cent of samples of lo-mei were contaminated with a bacteria called Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in 2021-22, up from 14.3 per cent in the previous year and nil in 2018-19.