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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (August 31) released the findings of its food safety report for July. Of the 16,800 food samples tested, 22 were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 4,000 food samples were taken for chemical tests, including 240 samples of food and drinks collected from the local market in response to the plasticiser contamination incident in Taiwan for testing di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-butyl phthalate (DBP).
Some 1,100 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 11,600 (including 11,500 samples taken from food imported from Japan) for testing radiation levels.
Among the 22 unsatisfactory samples, the test results for 12 of them were announced earlier, comprising two samples of preserved bean curd found containing Bacillus cereus and 10 samples of food and drinks containing plasticisers at unsatisfactory levels.
The microbiological tests cover pathogens while the chemical tests aim to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters and veterinary drug residues.
The samples included vegetables and fruits and their products; meat and poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables and fruits and their products
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The CFS took about 3,300 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analysis. One sample of ceylon spinach was detected to contain a pesticide, endosulfan, at a level of 8.51 parts per million (ppm).
The spokesman said, "Occasional consumption at the level of Endosulfan found in the sample will not cause adverse health effects, but consumption on a long-term basis may affect the kidney."
The remaining samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens and metallic contamination) were satisfactory.
Meat and poultry and their products
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The CFS took about 600 samples of fresh, chilled and frozen pork, beef and poultry, ready-to-eat dishes of meat and poultry served at food premises, and meat- and poultry-made products, such as Chinese preserved meat, sausage and ham, for tests. All samples were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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The CFS took some 800 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab, squid and their products for analyses. Two frozen tuna fish samples were found to contain mercury at levels of 0.71 and 0.93 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 ppm.
The spokesman said, "At the detected mercury levels, occasional consumption would not cause adverse health effects, but consumption on a long-term basis may affect the nervous system."
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives, biotoxins and veterinary drug residues) were found to be satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 700 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products for tests. Results of all tests were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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The CFS took some 500 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereal for analyses. All samples passed the tests.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 10,900 samples of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses.
In respect of preservatives, three samples were found to contain benzoic acid. The detected levels in the samples of chili sauce and oyster sauce were 2,000 ppm and 3,100 ppm respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 1,000 ppm. A curry paste sample was found to contain the preservative at a level of 2,600 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 350 ppm.
"The benzoic acid is of low toxicity and will not cause adverse health effects," the spokesman said.
Two samples of fried fritter and one sample of mung bean dessert with QQ pills were found to contain a non-permitted preservative, boric acid, at respective levels of 560 ppm, 630 ppm and 530 ppm.
The spokesman said, the detected levels in the samples were unlikely to pose adverse health effects upon normal consumption.
Regarding microbiological analyses, a follow-up sample of spinach with preserved bean curd was found to contain Bacillus cereus at a level of 2.6 million per gramme. The spokesman noted that consumption of food containing Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
Conclusion
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The spokesman advised the food trade to comply with the legal requirements and follow Good Manufacturing Practice, using only permitted food additives in an appropriate manner.
Consumers should patronise licensed restaurants and reliable retailers and maintain a balanced diet to avoid excessive exposure to food additives from a small range of food items.
"Fish contain many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high quality proteins. Moderate consumption of a variety of fish is recommended. Pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children are the susceptible groups being affected by mercury. When choosing fish for food, they should avoid eating large predatory fish," the spokesman said.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions including asking the vendors concerned to stop selling the products and to dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
Ends/Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:33
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