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Upon recent media reports on preservatives found in some imported instant noodles, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has completed its follow-up investigations. Test results of samples of the nine types of the instant noodles concerned were all satisfactory.
The CFS learned on October 9 that certain batches of Indomie instant noodles imported into Taiwan from Indonesia were found to contain a non-permitted preservative methyl para-hydroxybenzoate under Taiwan regulations and that the level of another preservative, benzoic acid, exceeded their legal limit.
The CFS contacted the Hong Kong sole agent of the noodles immediately and took samples of eight types of "Indomie Instant Noodles" products distributed by the sole agent and another parallel product "Indomie Mi Instan" for testing to see if preservatives were used in compliance with the regulations in Hong Kong.
Other than the preservatives methyl para-hydroxybenzoate and benzoic acid, sorbic acid and ethyl-para-hydroxybenzoate were also tested.
A CFS spokesman said today (October 14) that according to the safety evaluation by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations/World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2006, presence of methyl para-hydroxybenzoate in food under certain level will not pose health risk on humans. According to the current regulations of Hong Kong, methyl para-hydroxybenzoate is permitted to be used in various food items. In Hong Kong, the permitted food preservatives level are listed on the Schedule I of the Preservatives in Food Regulation. The CFS would decide the maximum permissible level of preservatives in food, including condiment sachets, according to their ingredients.
The spokesman pointed out that the CFS had been conducting sale checks on retail outlets with particular attention to Indonesian food shops and small scale retailers in addition to investigation work with the Hong Kong sole agent. The surveillance checks will continue.
He added,"Under regular food surveillance schemes, the CFS takes food product samples including instant noodles at import, wholesale and retail levels for tests to ensure that the food products are in line with the relevant legal and food safety standards. The CFS will keep monitoring closely the situation and take necessary follow-up actions."
He also reminded members of the public to maintain a balanced diet and patronise reliable shops and retailers.
Ends/Thursday, October 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:09
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