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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (January 29) released its Food Safety Report for December, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 6,100 food samples were tested. Of these, about 5,100 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,000 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8%, with 12 samples found to be unsatisfactory (six of them, namely noodlefish, chilli radish, chilli bamboo shoot, bamboo shoot, leaf mustard and dried fig have 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
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About 3,400 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the five preserved fruit and vegetable samples previously announced, all the other samples were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 500 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests, three samples were found to be unsatisfactory.
For tests on preservatives, two fresh beef samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat, at levels of 74ppm and 1,600ppm.
On pathogens, a cooked chicken was found to contain staphylococcus aureus at a level of 22,000 per gramme.
Results of other tests (including for veterinary drug residues) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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About 700 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. Apart from a sample of noodlefish announced previously, there were two unsatisfactory samples.
For tests on metallic contamination, a sample of frozen swordfish was found to contain mercury at a level of 1ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm.
On veterinary drug residues, a sample of frozen shrimp was found to contain metabolite of nitrofuran at a level of 0.002ppm.
For pathogens and biotoxins, all the test results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 600 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 200 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals and found to be satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 700 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces for tests and all the results of tests for chemicals were satisfactory.
For microbiological tests, a sample of chicken noodle was found to contain staphylococcus aureus at a level of 110,000 per gramme.
Conclusion
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"Of the current round of food sample results, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose adverse health effects," a CFS spokesman said.
For the fresh beef samples detected with sulphur dioxide, the concerned vendors are repeat offenders. The CFS will closely monitor them and take prosecution action if there is sufficient evidence. Once convicted, their licences may be temporally suspended or cancelled according to the current mechanism.
The unsatisfactory test results involved the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives in food. The spokesman urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
"The food samples detected with pathogens staphylococcus aureus reflected poor hygiene conditions during food processing. Food handlers should always observe good personal hygiene and wash their hands thoroughly before handling food," the spokesman said.
Despite detection of excessive mercury in a fish sample, the spokesman advised the public to continue appropriate consumption of fish as it contains many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high quality protein. Consumers should eat a variety of fish and maintain a balanced diet. Young children, pregnant women and women planning for pregnancy should avoid eating large predatory fish.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up action, including 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.
Concluding the food surveillance programme for 2009, the spokesman said that apart from regular food surveillance, the CFS had conducted a number of targeted as well as seasonal and popular food surveillance projects.
"During the year, about 63,000 samples were tested and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.7%. The breaches were mainly related to illegal use of food additives, metallic contamination and hygienic indicators," he said.
Ends/Friday, January 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:38
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