****************************************
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (December 30) released its Food Safety Report for November, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 4,700 food samples were tested. Of these, about 3,000 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,600 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.6%, with 18 samples found unsatisfactory (three of them, namely a preserved pummelo sample, a vegetarian sausage sample and a white cabbage and pork dumpling sample had been published).
While microbiological tests cover pathogens and viruses, chemical tests are to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination and colouring matters.
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 1,600 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the previously announced preserved pummelo sample, there were ten unsatisfactory samples.
One sample of Romaine hearts and one sample of Chinese white cabbage were found to contain the metal contaminant cadmium at a level of 0.16ppm and 0.42ppm respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
For tests on preservatives, a sample of dried figs was found to contain sorbic acid at a level of 670ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 500ppm. A total of seven preserved foods were found to contain sulphur dioxide exceeding the legal limits. They included two samples of dried raisins, two samples of dried apricots, a sample of dried tomato, a sample of dried sweet potato and a sample of skinned green chili pepper. The detected levels ranged from 200ppm to 3000ppm. The legal limits for sulphur dioxide in these food items ranged from 100ppm to 2000ppm.
All the samples tested for pesticides, pathogens and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
--------------------------
The CFS collected about 500 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. All were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
----------------
About 400 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. All the test results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
------------------------------------------
The CFS took about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. All the results of tests on chemicals were satisfactory.
For microbiological tests, two samples of pure cream from the same batch were found to contain total bacterial counts, at a level of 31,000 per gramme and 61,000 per gramme respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 30,000 per gramme.
The two concerned samples were collected at import level. No stock has been released into the market.
Cereals, grains and products
----------------------------
About 100 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals. Apart from the vegetarian sausage sample, which had been announced earlier, a sample of flour tortillas was found to contain preservatives propionic acid at a level of 4,700ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 3,000ppm.
Other food commodities
----------------------
About 1,100 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested. Apart from a sample of white cabbage and pork dumpling announced previously, all the results of tests on chemicals were satisfactory.
On microbiological tests, a baked rice with seafood sample and a baked rice with salmon and cheese sample were found to contain Clostridium perfringens, at a level of 1,400,000 per gramme and 230,000 per gramme respectively.
Conclusion
----------
The breaches were mainly a result of excessive use of food preservatives. A CFS spokesman urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives in an appropriate manner, follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements.
"The pure cream samples detected with excessive total bacteria counts reflected poor hygiene conditions during food processing. Importers are reminded to procure from reliable manufacturers to ensure that the products have been properly treated during production, and good hygienic conditions are always maintained at the production line and the plant," a CFS spokesman said.
In the baked rice samples detected with Clostridium perfringens exceeding the legal limit, the spokesman said it could be due to improper holding temperature and inadequate cooking of food. He reminded the food trade to follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" in handling food to prevent foodborne disease.
"The detection of excessive cadmium in vegetable samples was an individual case. Fruit and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet as they are good sources of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. The public is advised to take a balanced diet. The public should soak and wash vegetables thoroughly before consumption," he said.
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/Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:58
NNNN
