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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (May 29) released its second Food Safety Report for 2008, which included food surveillance results for March and April.
Announcing the results at a press conference, Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of the CFS, Dr Miranda SY Lee, said about 8,400 food samples were tested. Among them, about 2,500 samples were taken for microbiological tests and about 5,600 for chemical tests.
"The overall satisfactory rate is 99.7%, with 29 samples found unsatisfactory," she said.
While microbiological tests cover pathogenic bacteria and viruses, chemical tests are to detect sweeteners, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and pesticides.
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 3,200 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. There were three unsatisfactory samples.
On pesticides, tests were conducted for four main types covering more than 100 pesticides (such as DDT, methamidophos and hexachlorocyclohexane). A green pepper sample was found to contain a trace amount of methamidophos (2ppm).
For food additives, tests included preservatives, such as sulphur dioxide, benzoic acid and sorbic acid. One preserved turnip sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide at a level of 1,300ppm, exceeding the legal limit (100ppm). One dried radish sample was found to have benzoic acid at a level of 1,200ppm, exceeding the legal limit (250ppm).
All samples tested for colouring matters, sweeteners, metallic contamination and micro-organisms had satisfactory results.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 1,300 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from one unsatisfactory sample of canned pork announced previously, there were six unsatisfactory samples.
Regarding tests for veterinary drug residues, clenbuterol, which is not permitted, was found in two pork samples (0.002ppm and 0.0034ppm) and one shredded pork sample (0.002ppm).
On food additives, sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted in fresh meat, was found in two fresh pork samples (33ppm and 67ppm) and a fresh beef sample (780ppm). All samples tested for pathogens and colouring matters had satisfactory results.
Aquatic products
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About 500 samples (including freshwater fish, seawater fish and shellfish) were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and toxins. Apart from one unsatisfactory turbot sample announced earlier, there were four unsatisfactory results.
Regarding tests for veterinary drug residues, a sample of turbot was found to contain nitrofuran metabolites, at a level of 0.021ppm.
On micro-organisms, three raw oyster samples were found to contain Norovirus nucleic acid. Results of all samples for tests on metallic contamination, preservatives and toxins 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. No pathogens were detected.
Regarding tests on coliform organisms, which is a hygiene indicator, three milk samples collected from the same consignment were found to contain coliform organisms in 0.1ml, exceeding the legal standard.
Cereals, grains and products
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About 100 samples were analysed for micro-organisms and chemicals, with six being found unsatisfactory.
The seasoning oil of six instant noodle samples was found to contain TBHQ, a non-permitted anti-oxidant, at levels ranging from 110ppm to 200ppm. The anti-oxidant was also found in the noodle of three of these samples (from 85ppm to 130ppm). Among those three samples, two were also found to have benzoic acid (520ppm and 540ppm) in their chilli sauce, exceeding the legal limit of 400ppm.
On tests for metallic contamination, all the samples were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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About 2,000 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were also tested. There were five unsatisfactory samples.
Salmonella was present in 25 grammes of a sample of spicy chicken pot. Three samples were found to have Bacillus cereus, including a sample of vermicelli with sliced chicken (340,000 per gramme) and two rice samples (140,000 per gramme and 170,000 per gramme).
A sample of prickly ash was found to contain non-permitted colouring matters Rhodamine B and Crocein Scarlet 3B.
Summing up
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"Of the current round of food sample results, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose immediate health risks," Dr Lee said.
"On the food samples detected with pathogens, and milk samples found to contain coliform organisms, the breaches could be indications of unsatisfactory hygiene conditions during food processing and production.กจ
She reminded food factories and food premises to avoid preparing food pre-maturely, and to store food at suitable temperature (either four degrees Celsius or below; or 60 degrees Celsius or above). The food should be thoroughly cooked, and reheat thoroughly with the centre temperature at or above 75 degrees Celsius before consumption.
Dr Lee said the rest of the unsatisfactory samples were mainly related to the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives or veterinary drug residues.
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 will also be taken," she said.
Ends/Thursday, May 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:08
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