***************************************
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (November 30) released its Food Safety Report for October, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 4,900 food samples were tested. Of these, about 3,400 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,600 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8%, with 10 samples found unsatisfactory (one of them on fresh beef sample had been published).
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
------------------------------------
About 1,700 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. There were three unsatisfactory samples.
One sample of Chinese parsley and two samples of Chinese spinach were found to contain the metal contaminant cadmium at levels ranging from 0.16 to 0.49ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
All the samples tested for pesticides, preservatives, pathogens and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
--------------------------
The CFS collected about 700 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the unsatisfactory fresh beef sample tested to contain sulphur dioxide, which had been announced earlier, a sample of shredded pork stick was found to contain the antioxidant "Butylated hydroxytoluene" (BHT) at a level of 1,600ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 100ppm.
All the samples tested for pathogens, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
----------------
About 600 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. There were three unsatisfactory samples.
For tests on metallic contamination, a sample of swordfish sashimi was found to contain mercury at a level of 0.98ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm. A sample of fresh lobster was found to contain cadmium at a level of 3.4ppm.
A sample of "lo shui" cuttlefish was found to contain the pathogen "Staphylococcus aureus" at a level of 13,000 per gramme.
All the results for veterinary drug residues, preservatives and biotoxins were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------
About 100 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals. All were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
----------------------
About 1,100 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested. There were two unsatisfactory samples.
On chemical tests, a sample of rice cracker with peanut was found to contain aflatoxins at a level of 0.025ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.02ppm.
On microbiological tests, a sample of coconut sweet soup with mango and sago was found to contain the pathogen Salmonella.
Conclusion
----------
The unsatisfactory chemical test results involved excessive metallic contamination, antioxidants or toxins in food. A CFS spokesman urged the food trade to follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
The detection of the pathogens "Salmonella" and "Staphylococcus aureus" in some samples could be due to poor hygiene during food processing. The CFS spokesman reminded restaurant operators to follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" to prevent food poisoning.
Despite detection of excessive mercury in a fish sample, the spokesman advised the public to continue appropriate consumption of fishes as they contain many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high quality protein. Consumers should eat a variety of fishes and maintain a balanced diet. Young children, pregnant women and women planning for pregnancy should avoid eating large predatory fishes.
For some vegetable samples with excessive cadmium, the public should soak and wash vegetables thoroughly before consumption.
The CFS has taken follow-up actions in respect of the unsatisfactory samples. Actions included 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 out," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, November 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:02
NNNN
