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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. Of the 7 500 food samples tested, one sample was found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.99 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 1 500 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 1 200 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 4 800 (including about 4 500 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 matter, 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 1 100 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analyses. All results were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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All of the 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, taken by the CFS passed the tests.
Aquatic and related products
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The CFS took some 1 100 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analyses. All results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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All 600 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products collected by the CFS passed the tests.
Cereals, grains and their products
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The CFS took about 500 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 3 600 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests.
A sweetened lotus seed sample was found to contain sodium dehydroacetate, a preservative not permitted in candied lotus seed, at a level of 8.5 ppm.
"Based on the level of sodium dehydroacetate detected, adverse health effect to consumers upon normal consumption is unlikely," the spokesman said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. pathogens, metallic contamination and veterinary drug residues) were found to be satisfactory.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on all the unsatisfactory samples including tracing the source of the food items in question, asking the vendors concerned to stop 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 appealed to the trade to comply with the legal requirements and follow Good Manufacturing Practice. They should use permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner.
The trade should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk.
Ends/Friday, May 31, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:31
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