***********************************
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (June 30) released its Food Safety Report for May, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 6,000 food samples were tested in May. Among them, about 4,100 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,900 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.7%, with 15 samples being found unsatisfactory.
While microbiological tests cover pathogens and viruses, chemical tests are to detect sweeteners, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues, pesticides and melamine, etc.
Samples included vegetables, fruit 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
-------------------------------------------
About 2,600 samples of vegetables, fruit and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from an unsatisfactory sample of root starch jelly announced earlier, all the samples were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
-------------------------------------
The CFS collected about 500 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. A sample of Spanish sausage was found to contain the preservative sorbic acid, which is not permitted to be used in that type of food, at a level of 150ppm. A fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat, at a level of 15ppm.
All the samples tested for pathogens, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
-------------------------
About 300 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. Three fresh oyster samples were found to contain the heavy metal cadmium, at levels ranging from 2.7ppm to 3ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 2ppm.
All the results for pathogens, veterinary drug residues, biotoxins and preservatives were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
----------------------------------------------------------
The CFS took about 1,100 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. Apart from the five unsatisfactory samples of ice-cream which were announced earlier, all the other samples were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
-----------------------------------------
About 200 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals and all were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
----------------------------------
About 1,400 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were also tested. All samples passed the micro-biological tests.
For chemical tests, apart from two unsatisfactory samples of sweet soup announced earlier, there were two other unsatisfactory samples.
A sample of Chinese red bun was found to contain the non-permitted colouring matter Rhodamine B.
A sample of nopal juice was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 720ppm. The sample was also found to contain sorbic acid at a level of 610ppm. The sum of the proportion of individual levels of these two preservatives detected has exceeded the legal limit.
Conclusion
-----------------
"Of the test results announced today, the exceedances or breaches were not serious," a CFS spokesman said.
The breaches were mainly excessive or illegal use of food preservatives, colouring matters or metal contamination. The spokesman urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
"For the levels of cadmium detected in the fresh oyster samples, normal consumption should not pose adverse health effect on consumers. Long term excessive consumption of oysters with the same level of cadmium may affect the kidneys,กจ the spokesman said.
"Marine bivalves are of a higher risk to contain pathogens such as norovirus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Consumers should cook them thoroughly before consumption. They are also advised to maintain a balanced diet.
"The CFS has taken follow-up actions in respect of the unsatisfactory samples. These include tracing the food sources, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of the affected food, taking further samples and issuing warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will be taken."
Ends/Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:32
NNNN
