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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) announced today (January 26) the first batch of test results on Lunar New Year food samples. Of the 239 samples collected for chemical and microbiological tests, all were found satisfactory.
The food samples were collected from food factories, restaurants and retailers (e.g. dried aquatic products shops, supermarkets and bakeries) in past few weeks. They included turnip puddings, sweet cakes, fried sesame balls, crispy triangles, sweetened fruits, glutinous rice balls, melon seeds, dried vegetables and dried soybean products, dried aquatic products and Chinese preserved meat.
Chemical tests targeted preservatives, colouring matters, antioxidants, metallic contamination and aflatoxin, while microbiological tests covered pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus.
A CFS spokesman reminded traders to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
"People should buy foods from reliable shops. For prepackaged foods, remember to check whether the packaging is intact and look at the expiry date. Avoid choosing Lunar New Year foods which are of abnormally intensified colour. Raw and cooked foods should be stored separately to avoid cross contamination. People should also keep a balanced diet without overindulging in foods that are high in energy, sugar, fat or cholesterol," the spokesman said.
The whole surveillance project covers a total of 670 samples. The test results of the remaining samples will be announced as soon as they are available.
Ends/Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:01
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