FRUIT and meat are the produce most frequently contaminated in wet markets and could spread disease, a survey has found.
The study by the City Polytechnic found blocked sewers in wet markets and unhygienic practices, such as spitting and smoking by hawkers, were most likely to affect meat and fruits.
The three-month survey by a group from the polytechnic's department of applied social studies found many foodstuffs being sold under poor hygiene conditions.
A member of the Wet Market Study Group and the associate head of the department, Mr Chan Wing-tai, said the unhygienic conditions posed a risk of diseases like salmonella, dysentery and hepatitis.
Data was collected from about 1,000 food stalls at 89 Government and private markets in the territory. Five categories of food stalls selling poultry, fruit, vegetables, seafood and meat were observed and their operators interviewed.
Fruits sold at wet markets were the worst in terms of cleanliness and freshness, adequacy of preservation and environmental hygiene.