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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (January 31) released its sixth Food Safety Report for 2007, which covered food surveillance results for November and December.
Announcing the results at a press conference, Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of the CFS, Dr Miranda S Y Lee, said about 13,300 food samples were tested in November and December. Among them, about 2,900 samples were taken for microbiological tests and about 10,300 for chemical tests.
"The overall satisfactory rate was 99.6%, with 55 samples found unsatisfactory," she said.
While microbiological tests cover pathogenic bacteria and viruses, chemical tests are conducted to detect sweeteners, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and pesticides.
Food samples tested included vegetables, fruits and their products; meat, poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables, fruits and products
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About 5,000 samples of vegetables, fruit and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. There were 12 unsatisfactory samples.
On pesticides, tests were conducted for four main types covering more than 100 pesticides (such as DDT, methamidophos and hexachlorocyclohexane). Two Chinese flowering cabbage samples were found to contain a trace amount of methamidophos at levels of 1.3ppm and 1.4ppm. A Chinese onion and two Chinese parsley samples were found to contain a trace amount of isocarbophos at levels of 2ppm, 3ppm and 3.2ppm respectively.
For food additives, tests included preservatives, such as sulphur dioxide, benzoic acid and sorbic acid. Two ginger samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide at levels of 210ppm and 560ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 100ppm. One of the ginger samples was also found to contain 940ppm benzoic acid, exceeding the legal limit of 250ppm.
Concerning preserved vegetables, a rakkyo sample was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 730ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 250ppm. A preserved vegetable sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide at a level of 980ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 100ppm.
For metallic contamination, tests included cadmium, arsenic and lead. Three samples (eggplant, fresh herb salad and spinach) were found to contain cadmium at levels of 0.15ppm, 0.19ppm and 0.21ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
For colouring matters, all samples tested were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 1,700 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the three previously announced unsatisfactory samples of canned pork products, in which nitrofurans and malachite green were found, and the six unsatisfactory samples of meat detected with sulphur dioxide, there were 21 unsatisfactory samples.
Regarding the tests for veterinary drug residues, two fresh pig liver samples were found to contain clenbuterol, which is not permitted, at levels of 0.017ppm and 0.03ppm. Two chilled silk fowl samples were found to contain enrofloxacin at levels of 0.17ppm and 0.21ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm. A fresh bovine liver was found to contain streptomycin at a level of 1.4ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm.
On food additives, apart from the six unsatisfactory samples of meat announced earlier, another 16 fresh meat samples (including 13 beef, two pork and a mutton) were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to use in fresh meat, at levels ranging from 12ppm to 4,300ppm.
All samples tested for pathogens and colouring matters had satisfactory results.
Aquatic products
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About 1,100 samples (including freshwater fish, seawater fish and shellfish) were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and toxins. Apart from the unsatisfactory bream fillet sample and the oyster sample announced earlier, there were three samples with unsatisfactory results.
Regarding the tests for veterinary drug residues, except for the bream fillet sample detected with malachite green announced earlier, results for the other samples were satisfactory.
Concerning tests for metallic contamination (including mercury, chromium, arsenic and cadmium), apart from the earlier announced unsatisfactory oyster sample which contained cadmium above the legal standard, two kinme tai samples were found to contain mercury, both at a level of 1.4 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm. A scallop sample was found to contain cadmium at a level of 3ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 2ppm.
All samples tested for toxins, preservatives and microbiological tests had satisfactory results.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 2,300 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. No pathogens were detected in them.
Regarding the tests on total bacterial count and coliform organisms, which are hygiene indicators, a soft ice-cream sample was found to contain coliform organisms at a level of 1,900 per gramme, exceeding the legal limit of 100 per gramme.
Cereals, grains and products
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About 600 samples were analysed for micro-organisms and chemicals. One bread sample was found to contain sorbic acid, which should not be used in it, at a level of 1,400ppm.
All samples tested for metallic contamination and colouring matters had satisfactory results.
Other food commodities
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About 2,600 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were also tested. Apart from the previously announced unsatisfactory sample of chili source, there were five unsatisfactory samples.
A sample of grape soft drink was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 290ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 160ppm. A chili sauce sample and a soy sauce sample were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to be used in them, at levels of 86ppm and 700ppm respectively. A sample of green curry paste was found to contain sorbic acid, which is not permitted to be used in it, at a level of 560ppm. Another seasoning sauce was found to contain antioxidant (2,100ppm BHT and 1,200ppm BHA), exceeding the legal limit of 200ppm.
Microbiological tests on all samples had satisfactory results.
Summing up
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"Of the current round of food sample results announced, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose immediate health risks," Dr Lee said.
"Total bacterial count and coliform organisms are hygiene indicators. The level detected in the soft ice-cream sample could be indications of sub-optimal hygienic conditions during processing and production.กจ
Concerning fish samples detected with excessive mercury, Dr Lee advised consumers to maintain a balanced diet. High-risk groups such as children, pregnant women and women planning for pregnancy should avoid eating large predatory fish.
"We observe that a number of unsatisfactory samples were related to the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives," she said.
She urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions, including tracing the source of food in question, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of those food items, taking further samples and issuing warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution action will also be taken. For unsatisfactory samples collected at the import level, the CFS had informed the relevant authorities of the exporting places for their appropriate action," she said.
To summarise the food surveillance programme for last year, Dr Lee said apart from the regular food surveillance, the CFS had conducted a number of targeted food surveillance projects and seasonal food surveillance projects. It collected about 65,000 food samples for tests last year and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.5%. Regarding the overall surveillance results, the CFS will issue letters to the food trade, bringing to their attention the situation of breaches/exceedances and reminding them to use food additives appropriately and store food properly. The trade can make reference to the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk) for the latest information on food safety.
Dr Lee also reminded people to purchase food from reliable stores and avoid purchasing and consuming food of abnormal colour or smell. People are also advised to maintain a balanced diet.
Ends/Thursday, January 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:52
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