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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (November 30) released the findings of its food safety report for October. Of the 10,000 food samples tested, 15 were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
Among the 15 unsatisfactory samples, the test results of nine were announced earlier. They comprised seven fresh beef samples containing a non-permitted preservative, sulphur dioxide; one preserved pork sample containing a preservative, nitrate, at a level exceeding the legal limit; and one hairy crab sample containing a veterinary drug residue, 3-amino-2-oxazolidione (AOZ).
A CFS spokesman said about 4,000 food samples were taken for chemical tests. Some 1,400 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 4,600 (including 4,400 samples taken from food imported from Japan) for testing radiation levels.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens while the chemical tests aimed to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and plasticisers, 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, fruits and their 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 analysis.
Five vegetable samples were found to contain a metal contaminant, cadmium, at levels exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 parts per million (ppm). They comprised a fresh mushroom sample (0.46 ppm), an asparagus sample (0.24 ppm), a Chinese kale sample (0.2 ppm) and two Ceylon spinach samples (0.19 ppm each).
"Upon normal consumption, it is unlikely that the above vegetables with cadmium at the detected levels would pose any adverse health effects to consumers. Nevertheless, under long-term consumption, high consumers of Ceylon spinach with the same level of cadmium mentioned above may have their kidneys affected," the spokesman said.
"Vegetables should be soaked and washed thoroughly before consumption to remove cadmium adhered to the surface," he added.
The remaining samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, pesticides and preservatives) were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS took about 700 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.
All samples were found satisfactory, except for a preserved pork sample containing an excessive level of nitrate (announced on November 4) and seven fresh beef samples containing sulphur dioxide, a preservative that is not permitted in fresh meat (announced this morning).
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. Other than a hairy crab sample announced on October 28, which was found to contain a small amount of veterinary drug residues, AOZ, all the remaining samples passed the tests.
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 tests. Results of all tests were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and their products
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The CFS took some 300 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereal for analyses. A rice vermicelli sample was found to contain cadmium at a level of 0.14 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm.
"Upon normal consumption, it is unlikely that the rice vermicelli with cadmium at the detected level would pose any adverse health effects to consumers. The CFS understands that the vendor concerned and its other outlets have already stopped sale of the affected batch while the importer concerned is recalling the affected products for disposal. Follow-up samples will be taken for testing if the same product is available for sale again at the retail outlets concerned," 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 3,900 food samples of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses. All samples were satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The spokesman advised food trade operators to use permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner and follow Good Manufacturing Practice. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system to allow source tracing if needed.
Consumers should patronise licensed restaurants and reliable retailers, and follow a balanced diet so as to avoid excessive intake of certain harmful substances as a result of frequent consumption of 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/Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:29
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