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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 31) released the findings of its food safety report for April. Of the 7,100 food samples tested, 19 were found unsatisfactory (nine have been announced earlier) and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.7 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 2,500 food samples were taken for chemical tests. Some 800 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 3,900 (including 3,700 samples taken from food imported from Japan) for testing of radiation levels.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators while the chemical tests were aimed at detecting pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and plasticisers, etc.
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, fruits and their products
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The CFS took about 1,800 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analysis.
One baby spinach sample, one fresh mushroom sample and one Chinese lettuce sample were found to contain a metallic contaminant, cadmium, at levels of 0.17 parts per million (ppm), 0.46 ppm and 0.15 ppm respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm.
"Upon normal consumption, it is unlikely that consumption of the above vegetables with cadmium at the detected levels would pose any adverse health effects to consumers," the spokesman said.
"Fruit and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet as they are good sources of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. They should be soaked and washed thoroughly before cooking to remove cadmium adhered to the surface," he added.
All the remaining samples passed other tests (e.g. pathogens, pesticides and preservatives).
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS took about 500 samples of fresh, chilled and frozen pork, beef and poultry, ready-to-eat dishes of meat and poultry served at food establishments, and meat- and poultry-made products, such as Chinese preserved meat, sausage and ham, for tests.
Other than the six fresh beef samples found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative not permitted in fresh meat (including frozen and chilled), announced earlier this month, one sample of fresh beef taken from a fresh provision shop while following up on a food complaint was found to contain sulphur dioxide at a level 21 ppm.
"Sulphur dioxide is of low toxicity. Based on the level detected in the sample, normal consumption should not pose any adverse health effects. For individuals who are allergic to this preservative, they may develop symptoms like breathing difficulty, headache and nausea," the spokesman said.
"As sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking", he added.
Samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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The CFS took some 1,100 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab, squid and their products for analyses. One sample of fresh oyster was detected to contain cadmium at a level of 3.5 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 2 ppm.
"Long-term consumption of the sample at the level of cadmium detected may affect the kidney," the spokesman said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives and veterinary drug residues) were found to be satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 300 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products for tests.
The total bacteria counts of five frozen confection samples of the same brand were found ranging from 57,000 to 72,000 per gramme, exceeding the legal limit of 50,000 per gramme.
The spokesman said, "Total bacteria count is a hygienic indicator. The samples were collected at the import level. The consignment concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS. No affected product has entered the local market."
All samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, melamine, preservatives, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and their products
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The CFS took some 300 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 3,100 food samples of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses.
Other than one sample of satay paste, a sample of balsamic vinaigrette and a sample of sports drink powder found to contain plasticisers announced last month, all samples were satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on all the unsatisfactory samples including issuing warning letters to the vendors concerned and taking follow-up samples for testing. Prosecution will be initiated if there is sufficient evidence.
The spokesman advised the consumers to patronise reliable retailers and not to buy or consume meat which is unnaturally red. They are also advised to take a balanced diet to avoid excessive intake of harmful substances from a small range of food items.
As for traders, they should always comply with the legal requirements, follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and only use permitted food additives in an appropriate manner.
Importers of frozen confections should source the products from reliable food manufacturers while manufacturers should ensure that the process of producing frozen confections is hygienic, including proper disinfection of the equipment.
He reminded the trade to maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
Ends/Thursday, May 31, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:31
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