CFS announces food safety report for October
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A CFS spokesman said about 1 700 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5 600 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 2 200 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 600 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1 100 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 1 000 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 700 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The 11 unsatisfactory food samples comprised two fresh beef samples found to contain sulphur dioxide; a prepackaged frozen yellow croaker fish fillet sample and a red crab sample detected with metallic contaminants exceeding the legal limit; a frozen suckling pig sample detected with chlortetracycline exceeding the legal limit; an illegally sold hairy crab sample found to contain nitrofuran metabolite; a tuna fillet sample found to contain a toxic metabolite, histamine; a prepackaged breakfast cereals sample and a fish oil sample of a prepackaged fish oil supplement detected with an antioxidant exceeding the legal limit; a prepackaged pork sausage sample detected with a non-permitted preservative; and a vanilla ice cream sample detected with a preservative exceeding the legal limit.
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, November 30, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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