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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (October 17) announced test results of a targeted surveillance project aimed at assessing the microbiological quality of bottled water.
The CFS collected 60 samples in August and September this year from food factories, supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail shops for microbiological tests. Two samples were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 96.7 per cent.
The samples tested included bottled natural mineral water and bottled drinking water, such as distilled water and artificial mineralised water, from local and overseas production plants. The CFS also collected samples of different bottle volumes which included carboys of water for water dispensers.
Samples were taken for microbiological and pathogen tests. The microbiological tests covered hygienic indicators (e.g. E Coli and total coliform bacteria), while pathogen tests included Faecal streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Sulphite-reducing anaerobes.
Two bottled water samples taken from the same licensed food factory were detected with the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, at respective levels of 31 and 69 per 250 millilitre.
"Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in bottled water may indicate contamination of the water source and/or during the manufacture, packaging, transport and storage process. The presence of a large amount of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in packaged water can be associated with changes in taste, odour and turbidity, but rarely causes severe diseases to healthy persons generally," CFS spokesman said.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up action including asking the food factory concerned to stop sale, recall and disposal of the unsatisfactory bottled water and the issuing a warning letter. Follow-up samples were subsequently taken for testing with satisfactory results.
The spokesman reminded consumers to buy bottled water from reliable factories or shops, and avoid buying or drinking expired bottled water as well as those improperly sealed or with damaged packaging. Bottled water should be consumed as soon as possible after the bottle is opened.
"People with lower immunity should avoid bottled water that has not undergone a treatment process such as distillation or reverse osmosis. Water from carboy dispensers should be boiled," he said.
"For people taking care of infants, they should boil water from the water dispenser if they use it for preparing infant formula. The temperature of water used for preparation should not be lower than 70 degree Celsius. Reconstituted powdered infant formula should be then cooled to feeding temperature and consumed immediately. Mineral water is not suitable for preparing infant formula," he added.
The spokesman also reminded the trade to ensure that the products were fit for consumption and meet the microbiological criteria of the "Microbiological Guidelines for Ready-to-eat Food".
"Bottled water manufacturers should maintain good environmental hygiene in production plants, transport vehicles and warehouses. They should also observe good hygienic practices through all processes of production, transport and storage," he added.
Ends/Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:31
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