​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 5 300 food samples tested were satisfactory except for 11 samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was about 99.8 per cent.

     A CFS spokesman said about 1 200 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4 100 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 300 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 400 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

     The 11 unsatisfactory food samples comprised a lobster sample, a prepackaged black cod sample and a prepackaged dried Chinese white cabbage sample detected with metallic contaminants exceeding the legal limit, a radish sample, a Chinese lettuce sample and an Indian lettuce sample detected with excessive pesticide residues, two frozen confection samples detected with a total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit, a goldfish sample found to contain malachite green, a prepackaged shrimp noodle sample detected with a preservative exceeding the legal limit and a fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide.

     The CFS has taken follow-up action on the above-mentioned 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/Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00

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