Do you eat imported American spinach, use SK-II cosmetics and
receive ear candling therapy? If the answer is yes, you need to be
careful as those products and service offered in Hong Kong are
found hazardous to people's health.
According to local newspapers, spinach produced in the United
States contains colon bacillus, which has caused 50 cases of
infection in the country. It so far caused one death and 8 cases of
kidney failure.
Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department asked the US
consulate in Hong Kong to inform about polluted spinach and to stop
exporting spinach to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the department warned
the public to wash vegetables carefully before cooking.
Hong Kong Economic Times reported, however, Hong Kong's
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had not received any
report of infection caused by imported spinach so far.
The newspaper said major supermarkets, such as Citysuper, Sogo
and Welcome, stopped selling US imported spinach Friday when they
heard of the news about polluted spinach.
Meanwhile, health concern become intensified as excessive heavy
metals are found in products of SK-II, a famous and popular
Japanese cosmetic brand, which claimed to have whitening and
lifting effects on skin.
City University of Hong Kong announced Friday that their test
results showed 4 products of SK-II contain heavy metals Nd and Cr,
which are forbidden to use in cosmetics selling in Hong Kong. Hong
Kong Customs has taken some SK-II samples from local market and
said they will announce its test result in a week.
The largest chain store of cosmetics Sa Sa announced to call
back all SK-II sold by Sa Sa. Mannings, an chain pharmacy, said
customers can turn back SK-II within 14 days.
At the same day, Hong Kong Consumer Council warned the public
that there's no scientific support to the benefits of ear candling
therapy. It said the popular therapy offered in beauty salon may
cause ear diseases, even hearing loss.
Ear candling is a therapy, which is used in beauty salon to
clear earwax and reduce tension by lighting a hollow candle
inserting in patient's ear. However, the council said a report from
the United States showed the therapy may cause skin burns, candle
wax blocking, even hearing loss.
The council therefore warned the public ear candling therapy may
become hazardous because the lighting candle is very close to ear
and face. The council has received 31 reports complaining ear
candling therapy last year.
(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2006)