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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (March 31) released its Food Safety Report for February, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 3,000 food samples were tested. Of these, about 2,300 were taken for chemical tests and about 800 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9%, with three samples found to be unsatisfactory.
While microbiological tests cover pathogens, chemical tests are to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination and colouring matters, etc.
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 1,600 samples of vegetables, fruits and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. All the samples were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 200 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. A sample of Chinese preserved pork sausage was found to contain the non-permitted colouring matter Red 2G.
Results of other tests (including for pathogens, preservatives and veterinary drug residues) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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About 200 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. There were two unsatisfactory samples.
On microbiological tests, a sample of curry crab was found to contain pathogen Clostridium perfringens at a level of 390,000 per gramme.
For tests on veterinary drug residues, a sample of small snakehead was found to contain metabolite of nitrofurans at a level of 0.008ppm.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 500 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses (including melamine, colouring matters and sweeteners). All the test results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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About 50 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals. All the samples were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 400 samples including dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces for tests and all the results were satisfactory.
Conclusion
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"On the small snakehead sample found to contain metabolite of nitrofurans, the low level detected should not pose significant health hazard upon normal consumption," a CFS spokesman said.
The sample was taken from a consignment without health certificates. The entire batch had been disposed of and did not go into the market.
The spokesman urged the food trade to source materials from reliable suppliers, use only permitted food additives and follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
He also reminded the public to patronise licensed restaurants and reliable retailers.
"The food sample detected with pathogen Clostridium perfringens reflected poor food processing hygiene, especially when the food is not stored at the appropriate temperature, not thoroughly cooked or reheated," the spokesman said.
He reminded food handlers to follow "Five Keys to Food Safety" so as to minimise the risk of food poisoning.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions, including asking the 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 added.
Ends/Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:03
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