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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 31) released the findings of its food safety report for June. Other than a fresh beef sample which was detected to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, and a beverage sample which was found to contain brominated vegetable oil announced earlier, three samples were found to be unsatisfactory out of the some 10 900 food samples tested. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 4 700 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 1 100 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 5 200 (including about 4 900 samples taken from food imported from Japan) were collected 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 matter, 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 3 700 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analysis. All samples 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. Except for the fresh beef sample which was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a non-permitted preservative in fresh meat, and announced last month, all samples 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 analysis. Salmonella was found present in 25 grammes of one lo shui cuttlefish sample, contravening the Microbiological Guidelines for Ready-to-eat Food that Salmonella should not be detected in 25 grammes of food.
"Salmonella infection may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea," the spokesman said.
The results of other tests (e.g. preservatives, metallic contamination, toxins and veterinary drug residues) were all satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 800 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for analysis. The composition of one sample of milk was found not complying with the legal requirement. It contained a level of milk fat of 2.88 per cent while the legal requirement is not less than 3.25 per cent.
"The sample was collected at the import level and no affected products entered the local market. The sample did not meet the legal definition as stated in the composition of milk and the realistic expectation of its consumers. Consuming milk with milk fat below the legal requirement would not pose any health concern," the spokesman said.
Results of other tests (e.g. melamine, preservatives, veterinary drug residues and colouring matter) 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 analysis. One sample of rice vermicelli was found to contain the preservative sulphur dioxide at a level of 44 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 20 ppm. The preservative was not listed on the food label of the sample.
"Sulphur dioxide is of low toxicity. As it is water-soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. It will not pose adverse health effects to consumers upon normal consumption. However, for individuals who are allergic to it, symptoms of breathing difficulty, headache or nausea may develop," the spokesman said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. preservatives, pesticides and metallic contamination) were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 3 800 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests. Except for the beverage sample which was found to contain brominated vegetable oil announced earlier last month, the remaining samples were satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the unsatisfactory samples, including informing the trade concerned of the test results, marking and sealing the imported food concerned and instructing the vendor concerned to stop the sale of the incriminated food, tracing the source of the food items in question, and taking follow-up samples for further testing. The CFS will consider taking out prosecution action based on the test results.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that their food is fit for consumption and meets legal requirements. The trade should also maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk.
Ends/Thursday, July 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01
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