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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (October 31) released the findings of its food safety report for September. Of the about 12,000 food samples tested, 11 were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said that among those food samples, about 5,200 were taken for chemical tests, some 1,700 samples were collected for microbiological analyses and the remaining some 5,100 (including about 5,000 samples taken from food imported from Japan) were taken for testing radiation levels.
Of the 11 unsatisfactory samples, the test result of one vegetarian goose sample found containing Staphylococcus aureus was announced on September 27.
The microbiological tests cover pathogens while the chemical tests aim to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters and veterinary drug residues, etc.
The samples included vegetables and fruits and their products; meat and poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables and fruits and their products
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The CFS took about 4,100 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analysis.
One sample of bamboo fungus was detected with a preservative, sulphur dioxide, at a level of 2,700 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 500 ppm. "Sulphur dioxide is of low toxicity and it will not pose adverse health effects to consumers. However, for individuals who are allergic to it, symptoms of breathing difficulty, headache or nausea may develop. As sulphur dioxide is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing, soaking and cooking," the spokesman said.
A sample of ceylon spinach was found containing a metal contaminant, cadmium, at a level of 0.14 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm. "Upon normal consumption, it is unlikely for cadmium at the detected level to pose adverse health effects to consumers. Thorough washing and soaking of vegetables will remove cadmium attached to their surfaces," he said.
Results for the remaining samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, pesticides and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Meat and poultry and their products
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The CFS took about 900 samples of fresh, chilled and frozen pork, beef and poultry, ready-to-eat dishes of meat and poultry served at food premises, and meat- and poultry-made products, such as Chinese preserved meat, sausage and ham, for tests.
One poached chicken sample was found to contain a pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, at a level of 480,000 per gram. "Intake of food with an excessive amount of the pathogen might cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea," the spokesman said.
A preservative not permitted in fresh meat, sulphur dioxide, was detected in one fresh beef sample at a level of 600 ppm. Furthermore, a frozen mutton sample was found with residues of a non-permitted veterinary drug, Chloramphenicol, at a level of 0.0005 ppm. "Normal consumption of the sample with the detected level of Chloramphenicol is unlikely to pose adverse health effects," he said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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The CFS took some 1,100 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab, squid and their products for analyses. Two samples were found to contain non-permitted veterinary drug residues.
Chloramphenicol was found in a sample of dried shrimp at a level of 0.0008 ppm while malachite green was detected in one sample of steamed grass carp at a level of 2.2 ppm. "Normal consumption of the two products with the veterinary drug residues at the detected levels is unlikely to cause adverse health effects," the spokesman said.
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives, metallic contamination, biotoxins and colouring matters) were found to be satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 700 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products for tests.
A hygienic indicator in one sample of milk taken at import level was unsatisfactory as it was found containing colony counts over the legal limit of 10.
The spokesman said, "The importer concerned has surrendered all the products of the affected batch to the CFS for disposal, and no such milk has entered the local market."
Results of other tests (e.g. melamine, veterinary drug residues, colouring matters and sweeteners) were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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The CFS took some 500 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereal for analyses.
One rolled oats sample was detected with a metal contaminant, cadmium, at a level of 0.16 ppm exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm. "Upon normal consumption of the food at the same level of cadmium, it is unlikely to pose adverse health effects to consumers," the spokesman said.
The remaining samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 4,800 samples of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses.
A sample of Vietnamese rice noodles with cattle tongue was found to contain Bacillus cereus at a level of 690,000 per gram. As there was a count of over 100,000 per gram of the pathogen, the level was unacceptable according to the Microbiological Guidelines for Ready-to-eat Food. The spokesman said that intake of food, containing Bacillus cereus, might cause food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
Conclusion
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The spokesman advised the food trade to comply with legal requirements and follow Good Manufacturing Practice, using permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner.
The fact that some food samples were detected with pathogens exceeding legal limits indicated that the food handling process was unhygienic. The spokesman urged the trade to always follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" during food preparation to lower the risk of food poisoning.
As for consumers, they should patronise licensed restaurants and reliable retailers, and maintain a balanced diet to avoid excessive intake of food additives from a small range of food items.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions including asking the vendors concerned to stop selling the products and to dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
Ends/Monday, October 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:31
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