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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (October 30) released its Food Safety Report for September, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 5,300 food samples were tested in September. Of these, about 3,400 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,800 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8%, with 10 samples being found unsatisfactory.
While microbiological tests cover pathogens and viruses, chemical tests are to detect pesticides, preservatives and metallic contamination.
Samples 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 1,700 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. All the samples results were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 700 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the three unsatisfactory fresh meat samples tested to contain sulphur dioxide, which had been announced earlier, a sausage sample was found to contain sorbic acid at a level of 740ppm. The preservative is not permitted to be used in that type of food.
All the samples tested for pathogens, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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About 500 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. There were three unsatisfactory samples.
A chilled yellow croaker was found to contain colouring matters Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow FCF, which are not permitted to be used in chilled fish.
For tests on metal contamination, an orange roughy fillet was found to contain mercury at a level of 0.78ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm. A sample of fresh fan scallop was found to contain cadmium at a level of 3.5ppm.
All the results for veterinary drug residues, pathogens, preservatives and biotoxins were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 700 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 100 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals. All were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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About 1,500 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested. There were three unsatisfactory samples.
On chemical tests, a sample of oyster sauce was found to contain the preservative formic acid at a level of 990ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 200ppm. A sample of dietary supplement was found to contain the non-permitted sweetener Stevioside.
On microbiological tests, a sample of fried radish cake was found to contain the pathogen Clostridium perfringens at a level of 49,000 per gram.
Conclusion
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The unsatisfactory chemical test results involved excessive or illegal use of food preservatives, metal contamination or colouring matters in food. A CFS spokesman urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
On the detection of the pathogen Clostridium perfringens in a food sample, he said that could be indications of unsatisfactory hygiene conditions during food processing and production, especially for inappropriate food holding temperature and inadequate reheating or cooking of food. He reminded restaurant operators to follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" to prevent food poisoning.
On the fish sample detected with excessive mercury, the spokesman advised consumers to have moderate consumption of fish as it contains many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high quality proteins. People should maintain a balanced diet and eat a variety of fish. When choosing fish for food, young children, pregnant women and women planning for pregnancy should avoid eating large predatory fish.
The CFS has taken follow-up actions in respect of the unsatisfactory samples. They included 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," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, October 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:10
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