****************************************************
In response to press enquiries, a spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said today (September 22) that the CFS was contacting the Mainland authorities for more detailed information on findings that certain food items imported from Japan were found to contain excessive level of heavy metals.
"Based on information available, the levels of heavy metals in the food items, namely arsenic in saury and cadmium in squid, are within legal limits under Hong Kong food regulations concerned," he added.
The spokesman also said that heavy metals, including arsenic, lead and cadmium, are covered under CFS's food surveillance programme. He added that the CFS will collect food samples concerned for examination following the incident.
Ends/Friday, September 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:14
NNNN
