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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (March 20) released its first Food Safety Report for 2008, which included food surveillance results for January and February.
Announcing the results at a press conference, Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of the CFS, Dr Miranda S.Y. Lee, said some 8,400 food samples were tested.
Among them, some 1,900 samples were taken for microbiological tests and about 6,300 for chemical tests. The overall satisfactory rate is 99.5 per cent, with 39 samples found unsatisfactory.
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 3,600 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the 10 samples announced earlier (including sweetened winter-melon, dried daylily flower and bamboo fungus), there were nine unsatisfactory samples.
On pesticides, tests were conducted for four main types covering more than 100 pesticides (such as DDT, methamidophos and hexachlorocyclohexane). All the test results were satisfactory.
For food additives, tests included those for preservatives, such as sulphur dioxide, benzoic acid and sorbic acid. Three samples (preserved Sichuan mustard, preserved turnip and bamboo fungus) were found to contain sulphur dioxide, at levels ranging from 1,000ppm to 5,900ppm, exceeding the legal limits.
The above preserved Sichuan mustard sample, and one other sample of dried radish, and sweet and sour ginger, were found to contain benzoic acid at levels ranging from 540ppm to 2,400ppm, exceeding the legal limits.
For colouring matters, Orange II, which is non-permitted, was found in two fried red bean curd samples.
For metallic contamination, tests included cadmium, arsenic, and lead. Two dried black moss samples were found to contain cadmium at levels of 1.7ppm and 1.8ppm respectively.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected some 1,100 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Regarding the tests for pathogens and colouring matters, all the sample results were satisfactory.
For veterinary drug residue tests, results for all the samples tested in January and February were satisfactory. But a canned pork sample recently tested under the Food Surveillance Programme was found to contain a trace amount of clenbuterol, at the level of 0.0027ppm.
The sample concerned is "Heaven Temple Brand Chopped Pork and Ham" (340g). The batch number is M1 2 M26/05/2007, with a best before date of 25/05/2010.
On preservatives, a beef sample and a lamb leg sample were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted for use in meat, at levels of 20ppm and 410ppm respectively. A sample of babyback pork ribs was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 420ppm, exceeding the legal limit.
Aquatic products
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About 700 samples (including freshwater fish, seawater fish and shellfish) were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and toxins. Apart from the four unsatisfactory samples (including minced mud carp, frozen bream fillet, clam meat and dried shrimp) announced earlier, there were three unsatisfactory results.
On metallic contamination, two swordfish samples were found to contain mercury, at levels of 0.94ppm and 1.8ppm respectively. A raw oyster sample was found to contain Norovirus nucleic acid.
For tests on preservatives, apart from the dried shrimp sample announced earlier, all the sample results were satisfactory.
For tests on veterinary drug residues, apart from the three samples (minced mud carp, frozen bream fillet and clam meat) announced earlier, all the sample results were satisfactory.
Concerning tests for toxins, all the sample results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took some 1,300 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. All the test results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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About 400 samples were analysed for micro-organisms and chemicals. Apart from the festive cake sample announced earlier, there were two unsatisfactory results.
On tests for metallic contamination, two rice vermicelli samples were found to contain cadmium at a level of 0.24ppm, exceeding the legal limit.
For preservatives, apart from the festive cake sample announced earlier, all the other samples tested had satisfactory results.
Other food commodities
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Some 1,300 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were also tested. Apart from the three samples of glutinous rice ball (with peanut filling) announced earlier, there were four unsatisfactory samples.
A sample of chocolate was found to contain sorbic acid, which is not permitted to be used in it, at a level of 320ppm. A sample of red bun was found to contain Rhodamine B, a non-permitted colouring matter. A sample of pork roll was found to have clenbuterol at a level of 0.0025ppm. A sample of rice with curry chicken was found to contain Clostridium perfringen, at a level of 100,000 per gramme.
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 cause adverse health effects under normal consumption," Dr Lee said.
"The samples detected with Norovirus nucleic acid and Clostridium perfringens may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. For the sample detected with mercury, occasional consumption should not cause adverse health effects, but consumption on a long-term basis could exceed the safety level. High-risk groups such as children, pregnant women and women planning for pregnancy should avoid eating large predatory fish, such as swordfish and tuna."
"We observe that the unsatisfactory samples were mainly related to the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives."
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 the 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," she said.
Ends/Thursday, March 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:50
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