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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. Of the 14 900 food samples tested, eight frozen confection samples failed to pass microbiological tests and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.95 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 8 200 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 1 100 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 5 500 (including about 5 200 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 and related 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 6 900 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analyses. All results were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS completed the testing of about 700 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. All results were satisfactory.
Aquatic and related products
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The CFS took some 1 500 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analyses. All results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 900 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for tests. Eight durian-flavoured ice-cream samples of the same brand but with three different packaging sizes were found to contain coliform organisms at levels between from 180 and 3 600 coliform count per gram, exceeding the legal limit of no more than 100 coliform count per gram.
"Following up on the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS found that the importer of the frozen confections concerned had not obtained any import permission from the FEHD as stipulated by law. According to the information provided by the importer, some of the frozen confections were distributed to two local supermarkets. One of them has no stock left while the other one has voluntarily surrendered the remaining stock to the CFS for disposal. Those kept in the warehouse of the importer were sealed. So far, the CFS has found no affected products available for sale during its follow-up investigation," the spokesman said.
"Coliform organisms exceeding the legal limit indicates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning," he added.
Results of other tests (e.g. melamine, preservatives, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and their products
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The CFS took about 500 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 4 400 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests. All samples passed the tests.
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 the 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 importers that approval on the source of manufacture must be obtained from the FEHD first before importing ice-cream or frozen confections. In addition, the trade should also maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
He also advised consumers to buy ice-cream and frozen confections from reliable shops. They should also maintain a balanced diet to avoid eating ice-creams excessively as they are generally high in energy.
Ends/Friday, August 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:31
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