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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (September 7) announced the test results of a new batch of 69 mooncake samples under its latest Seasonal Food Surveillance Programme, with three samples being found to be unsatisfactory.
Test results of another 131 mooncake samples were announced earlier.
The CFS collected various types of mooncake samples, including traditional, snowy and ice-cream mooncakes, from retail outlets and food factories for chemical and microbiological tests. The chemical tests included preservatives, sweeteners, antioxidants, pesticides and heavy metals. The microbiological tests covered pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes.
All the 69 sample results were satisfactory as far as the chemical tests were concerned. For microbiological tests, no sample was detected with pathogens. However, two ice-cream mooncake samples were found to have total bacterial count at the levels of 79,000 per gramme and 100,000 per gramme respectively. Another sample was found to have coliform organisms at a level of 240 per gramme. All the levels detected exceeded the legal limits.
"Total bacterial count and coliform organisms are hygiene indicators. The levels detected in the samples are believed to be an indication of sub-optimal hygienic or storage conditions at the food premises concerned during handling," a CFS spokesman said.
"The samples were collected from two ice-cream retail outlets and a food factory. We will take follow-up actions, including issuing warning letters to the concerned food premises and asking them to stop selling and destroy the products concerned. The CFS would consider instigating prosecutions if there is sufficient evidence."
Under the law, any frozen confection for sale, including ice-cream mooncakes, should not contain more than 50,000 bacteria per gramme or more than 100 coliform organisms per gramme. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment.
The spokesman urged the trade to ensure that their food products were fit for human consumption and met legal requirements. They should also observe good hygiene practices in preparing and handling food.
"Snowy and ice-cream mooncakes, which do not undergo a baking process at high temperature, need to be handled hygienically during processing, transportation and storage to avoid contamination and growth of food poisoning germs," he said.
The spokesman also reminded the public that mooncakes could cause food safety concern if not properly stored. People should also buy mooncakes only from reliable retail outlets to ensure the quality of the product.
Following are some safety tips for mooncake lovers:
* Check the expiry dates of mooncakes and eat them within the recommended period;
* Check if mooncakes are properly packaged;
* Take the mooncakes, snowy mooncakes and ice-cream mooncakes in particular, home immediately after purchase, and keep them in the refrigerator. Snowy mooncakes should be kept at four degrees Celsius or below, while ice-cream mooncakes at minus 18 degrees Celsius or below;
* Use a cooler with ice when carrying snowy or ice-cream mooncakes outdoors; and
* Discard snowy and ice-cream mooncakes that have been kept at room temperature for more than two hours.
The spokesman added that people should eat mooncakes moderately as most of them were rich in sugar and fat. Those with chronic illnesses should consult physicians or dietitians before eating mooncakes.
Ends/Friday, September 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:48
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