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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. Of the 7,100 food samples tested, two samples, one Chinese flowering cabbage and one green papaya salad, were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.97 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 2,100 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 700 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 4,300 (including about 4,000 samples taken from food imported from Japan) for testing of radiation levels.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators while the chemical tests aimed at detecting pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues, plasticisers and others.
The samples included vegetables and fruits and their products; meat and poultry and their products; aquatic and related 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 2,000 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analyses.
One sample of Chinese flowering cabbage was detected to contain Carbofuran, a pesticide, at a level of 1.3 milligrams per kilogram.
The spokesman said, "Based on the level of the pesticide detected, occasional consumption will not pose any adverse health effect. But impact on the nervous system cannot be ruled out upon long-term consumption."
The remaining samples for other tests (e.g. metallic conntaminants, preservatives and pathogens) were all satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS completed the testing of about 400 samples, including fresh, chilled and frozen pork, beef and poultry, ready-to-eat dishes of meat and poultry served at food establishments, and meat- and poultry-made products such as Chinese preserved meat, sausages and ham. All results were satisfactory.
Aquatic and related products
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The CFS took some 1,000 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analyses with all results satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 300 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for analyses. All samples passed the tests.
Cereals, grains and their products
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The CFS took about 400 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereals for analyses. All samples passed the tests.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 2,900 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests.
A sample of green papaya salad was found to contain Salmonella. The spokesman said the sample had been taken while following up on a suspected food poisoning case. "Salmonella infection may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea," he said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. colouring matters, metallic contaminants and veterinary drug residues) were found to be satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the unsatisfactory samples including tracing the sources of the food items, asking the vendors concerned to stop the sale and dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up food samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
The spokesman reminded consumers to patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk. Consumers can wash and soak the vegetables thoroughly, blanch them in boiling water for one minute and discard the water afterwards, and remove the outer leaves or peel the vegetables as appropriate.
He also advised the trade to observe the "Five Keys to Food Safety" to minimise the risk of food poisoning.
Ends/Thursday, March 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:31
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