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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently collected 399 samples of various popular children's snacks from about 170 retail outlets and food plants for chemical and microbiological tests. The results were released today (February 2), with all the samples found to be satisfactory.
This survey on popular children's snacks included:
* sweets such as candies, chewing gum, chocolates and jellies;
* savouries and baking products including potato chips, crackers, cookies and cakes;
* beverages such as soft-drinks, fermented drinks and juice drinks;
* frozen confections including ice-cream, popsicles and yoghurts.
Chemical analyses included colouring matters, sweeteners, preservatives, anti-oxidants, aflatoxin and pesticides. Microbiological tests covered coliform organisms and pathogens such as Salmonella, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus.
"Although all the sample results are satisfactory, the CFS reminds traders to follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements for manufacturing food products. The public is advised to buy food only from reliable retail outlets and not to consume food of abnormal colour and taste," a CFS spokesman said.
"People should also maintain a balanced diet to minimise risk as some children's snacks contain high levels of energy, sugars, fat and salt."
Ends/Monday, February 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:32
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