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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (January 31) released the findings of its food safety report for December 2010. Of the 8,800 food samples tested, eight were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9%.
A CFS spokesman said that about 5,700 food samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 3,200 for microbiological and other tests. Among the eight unsatisfactory samples, the test results for six of them were announced earlier, comprising three samples of preserved fruit (sour peach, shredded mango and dried grape) and three samples of Lunar New Year food (two bamboo fungi and one sweetened winter melon).
The microbiological tests cover pathogens while the chemical tests are aimed to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters and veterinary drug residues, etc.
The 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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The CFS took about 3,000 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for microbiological and chemical analyses. Apart from the six unsatisfactory samples (as mentioned in the second paragraph above) announced earlier, all the other samples were found satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS took about 900 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical analyses. One sample of frozen suckling pig was found to contain Chloramphenicol, a veterinary drug not permitted in food, at a level of 0.0005 parts per million (ppm).
"The detected level of Chloramphenicol found in the suckling pig sample is low. Normal consumption of the product with the same level of Chloramphenicol was unlikely to pose adverse health effects," the spokesman said.
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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The CFS took about 1,100 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab, squid and their products for microbiological tests and chemical tests (e.g. preservatives, colouring matters, metallic contamination, biotoxins and veterinary drug residues). All of them were found to be satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 1,000 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products for microbiological tests (e.g. total bacterial count and pathogens, such as Salmonella and Listeria) and chemical tests (e.g. melamine, preservatives, colouring matters, sweeteners and veterinary drug residues). All test results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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The CFS took about 300 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereal for microbiological tests and chemical tests (e.g. preservatives, sweeteners, colouring matters and metallic contamination). All the samples were found satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 2,600 samples of beverages, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses. All samples passed the chemical tests.
As for microbiological tests, one sample of Swiss roll was found to contain staphylococcus aureus at a level of 500,000 per gramme.
"Staphylococcus aureus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The presence of high dose of such bacteria in food indicated that some food manufacturing and handling processes were unhygienic," the spokesman said.
Conclusion
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The CFS spokesman urged the food trade to source food from reliable suppliers while consumers should patronise licensed restaurants and reliable suppliers of food as well as maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk.
He reminded food handlers to observe good personal hygiene and wash their hands properly before handling food. If there is a wound in the hand, they should cover it properly with a waterproof bandage or wear a glove before handling food.
For the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions including asking the vendors concerned to stop selling and to dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
Concluding the food surveillance programme for 2010, the spokesman said apart from routine food surveillance, the CFS had conducted a number of targeted as well as seasonal and popular food surveillance projects.
"About 63,000 samples were tested by the CFS last year, with an overall satisfactory rate of 99.7% which was comparable to those in recent years. This indicates that food safety has been maintained at a high standard in Hong Kong. The exceedances or breaches for most of the unsatisfactory samples were not serious and would not pose adverse health effects to the general public. For individual food items with unsatisfactory test results, the CFS has taken prompt and effective follow-up actions to safeguard public health. Taking into account the latest assessment on food safety trends, the CFS will continue to regularly review the testing of food samples under the Food Surveillance Programme and step up surveillance of the hazards presented by the affected food items."
Ends/Monday, January 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:32
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