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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 31) released the findings of its food safety report for November. Of the 12,900 food samples tested, 17 samples were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 5,400 food samples were taken for chemical tests. Some 2,500 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 5,000 (including about 4,700 samples taken from food imported from Japan) for testing of radiation levels.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators while the chemical tests aimed at detecting pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues, plasticisers and others.
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 3,700 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analyses.
One sample of dried sweet potato was found to contain a preservative, sorbic acid, at a level of 472 parts per million (ppm). The preservative is not permitted to be used in that type of food. A sample of preserved pummelo was found to contain another preservative, benzoic acid, at a level of 1,300 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 1,000 ppm.
"Sorbic acid and benzoic acid are low-toxic preservatives. Based on the levels detected, it is unlikely that the samples would pose any adverse health effect upon normal consumption," the spokesman said.
Furthermore, a Chinese flowering cabbage sample was found to contain a metal contaminant, cadmium, at a level of 0.25 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm.
Long-term consumption of the sample at the level of cadmium detected may affect the kidney, 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 washed thoroughly and soaked before cooking to remove contaminants adhered to the surface," he added.
The remaining samples for other tests (e.g. pesticides and pathogens) were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS completed the testing of about 900 samples, including 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, sausages and ham. Other than two fresh meat samples found to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, announced earlier this month, all samples were found satisfactory (e.g. for tests on pathogens, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters).
Aquatic products
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The CFS took some 1,500 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analysis. A frozen pre-cooked prawn sample was found to contain residues of a veterinary drug, 3-amino-2-oxazolidione (AOZ), at a level of 0.002 ppm.
"The level of AOZ found in the sample concerned was low. Upon normal consumption, it is unlikely to pose adverse health effects," he said.
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives and metallic contamination) were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 1,000 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for tests. Five ice-cream samples were detected to contain coliform organisms ranging from 510 to 1,300 per gram, exceeding the legal limit of 100 per gram.
"Coliform organisms are a hygienic indicator. The samples were collected at the import level and no affected products have entered the local market," the spokesman said.
Results of 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 about 600 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereals for analyses. All samples passed the tests.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 5,100 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests.
Six samples of sweetened lotus seed were detected to contain sulphur dioxide at levels ranging from 660 ppm to 980 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 500 ppm.
"Sulphur dioxide is a low-toxic preservative. Based on the levels detected, it is unlikely that the samples would pose any adverse health effect upon normal consumption. However, individuals who are allergic to this preservative may have symptoms like breathing difficulty, headache and nausea," the spokesman said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, metallic contaminations, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters) were found to be satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on all the unsatisfactory samples including tracing the source of the food items in question, asking the vendors concerned to stop sale and dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up food samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
The spokesman reminded consumers to patronise reliable shops when buying food and to maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk.
He also advised the trade to comply with the legal requirements, follow good manufacturing practice and only use permitted food additives in an appropriate manner. For retailers, they should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
Ends/Monday, December 31, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:59
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