CFS announces test results of seasonal food surveillance project on mooncakes (second phase)
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A spokesman for the CFS said the first-phase test results on mooncakes were released on September 1. In the second-phase surveillance, the Centre continued to collect samples of over 20 brands covering traditional, snowy, ice-cream and other types of mooncakes from various retailers (including online retailers) and food factories for chemical and microbiological tests and nutrition content analysis.
Chemical tests covered colouring matters such as Sudan dyes, preservatives such as sulphur dioxide and sorbic acid, antioxidants, heavy metals, aflatoxins and mineral oil. Microbiological tests covered pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella and coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms. For nutrition content analysis, the contents of energy, protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, carbohydrates, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to see if the test results were consistent with the declared values on the nutrition labels.
The spokesman reminded people to maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive consumption of mooncakes as they are mostly high in sugar and fat. Some types also contain relatively high levels of salt. Eating too much fat will increase the risk of being overweight or obese while dietary sugar intake is a determinant of body weight and dental caries. In addition, excessive sodium intake will increase the risk of developing hypertension, fatal stroke and coronary heart disease.
He advised people to refer to nutrition labels, particularly on the sugar, salt and fat contents, to make a healthier choice. People should avoid excessive consumption of types of mooncake with high levels of fat or sugar, i.e. containing more than 20 grams of total fat or containing more than 15g of sugar per 100g of food. As for reducing salt intake, people can choose low-sodium mooncake types, i.e. containing less than 120 milligrams of sodium per 100g of food.
People should consider their health condition and consume various types of mooncakes in moderation during the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. They are advised to share mooncakes with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste mooncakes of different flavours and avoid over-consumption.
Members of the public should observe the following "Five Keys to Food Safety" in the purchase, storage and consumption of mooncakes to prevent food-borne diseases:
* Buy mooncakes from reliable outlets rather than patronising unlicensed hawkers, check whether the mooncakes are properly packaged, pay attention to the expiry dates before purchase and eat them within the recommended period;
* Store mooncakes according to the instructions on the package if they are not to be consumed immediately. Keep snowy mooncakes at 4 degrees Celsius or below and ice-cream mooncakes at minus 18 degrees Celsius or below, and consume them as soon as possible after taking them out from the refrigerator;
* Use an icebox to carry snowy or ice-cream mooncakes outdoors and consume them as soon as possible;
* Wrap mooncakes properly and separate them from raw food when storing in a refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination; and
* Maintain good personal hygiene. Wash hands properly with liquid soap and running water before handling mooncakes.
The spokesman also reminded food traders to adhere to the Good Manufacturing Practice. Other than purchasing food ingredients from reliable suppliers, they should also comply with legal requirements when using food additives.
"Snowy and ice-cream mooncakes, which do not undergo a baking process at high temperature, need to be handled hygienically during processing, transportation and storage to avoid contamination and growth of germs," he said.
Ends/Friday, September 9, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:30
Issued at HKT 15:30
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