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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (January 22) announced the results of the latest round of chemical tests on Lunar New Year food. Of the 117 samples, 114 passed the tests.
This follows test results released last week in which 513 out of 516 Lunar New Year food samples were found to be satisfactory.
Samples in the latest batch included festive cakes, turnip puddings, sweetened fruits and vegetables, sesame balls, crispy triangles, melon seeds, glutinous rice balls, vegetarian foods, preserved meat and dried seafood. The chemical tests targeted preservatives, colouring matters, sweeteners and metallic contamination.
The latest results showed that a bamboo fungus sample, "摱摱䙚﷿餢憌", packed in plastic bags and a "jin zhen" (ãºží¶€) sample were found to contain the preservative sulphur dioxide at levels of 4,900ppm and 3,100ppm respectively, exceeding the permitted level of 2,000ppm. A sample of red melon seeds was found to contain non-permitted colouring matter "Red 2G".
"Sulphur dioxide is of low toxicity and is water soluble. Most of this chemical can be removed after thorough soaking, washing and cooking but people who are allergic to it may experience respiratory discomfort, headaches and nausea. At the levels of sulphur dioxide detected, the concerned bamboo fungus and "jin zhen" should not pose adverse health effects with normal consumption. The immediate health risk for consuming food containing "Red 2G" is low. However, the risk of causing cancer may not be ruled out for long-term consumption.
"As regards the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has issued warning letters to the shops concerned and is tracing the sources. The centre has also requested them to stop selling the concerned products," a CFS spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, January 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:59
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