​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 8 700 food samples tested were satisfactory except for seven samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was about 99.9 per cent.

     A CFS spokesman said about 2 300 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 6 400 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

     The samples comprised about 2 100 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 600 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 1 000 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 2 200 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 1 100 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 700 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

     The seven unsatisfactory samples comprised a prepackaged frozen lobster sample detected with excessive sulphur dioxide and in breach of the food labelling regulation, two fresh pork samples found to contain sulphur dioxide, a prepackaged egg noodle sample in breach of the food labelling regulation, a Welsh onion sample and a purslane sample detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limit, and a lobster sample detected with cadmium exceeding the legal limit.

     The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.

     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food for sale is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Ends/Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:00

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