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Another 223 samples of Lunar New Year food, including puddings, sesame balls, melon seeds and dried seafood, tested under the Food Surveillance Programme were found to be satisfactory, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (January 21).
This follows test results on similar food items released last week in which 91 out of a total of 92 samples were found satisfactory.
For the current batch, only one food sample, a sweetened lotus seed, failed the tests.
"It was found to contain sulphur dioxide exceeding the permitted level," the spokesman said.
The sample was collected from a store and was sold in plastic bags without brands.
The spokesman said sulphur dioxide was a permitted preservative and commonly used in foods like sweetened lotus seeds and sweetened melons.
"While its presence poses little health risks to average individuals, it may cause allergic response such as asthma for people sensitive to sulphur dioxide. The retailer concerned has been advised to stop selling the product in question," he said.
"Sweetened lotus seeds are one of the popular Lunar New Year treats. Consumers should buy those with natural colour and avoid those that look extraordinarily white, as they may have been bleached with chemicals.
"People who are sensitive to sulphur dioxide should be more careful in choosing festive foods," the spokesman added.
Ends/Saturday, January 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:46
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