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Test results of targeted food surveillance project on nuts and seeds all satisfactory
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     According to the findings of the first targeted food surveillance project which aimed to assess the safety of nuts and seeds recently conducted by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, all 200 samples collected were satisfactory.

     A spokesman for the CFS said today (November 22), "Nuts, seeds and their products are popular foods. However, these foods may pose food safety problems when they are contaminated by food poisoning organisms, fungal toxins, pesticides and other contaminants. In recent years, more than 40 cases of human infection of Salmonella in the United States were traced to contaminated peanut products. Eventually, over 300 food products were recalled, and two of them had been imported into Hong Kong. In view of this, the CFS conducted its first targeted food surveillance on nuts and seeds to assess their safety."

     The CFS collected 200 nuts and seeds samples from supermarkets and other retail points in September and October this year for chemical and microbiological tests. Chemical tests covered aflatoxins, preservatives, pesticides and metallic contaminants while microbiological tests covered Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus.

     Despite the fact that all the samples tested were satisfactory, the spokesman reminded members of the public to purchase food from reliable shops. People should not buy or consume any nuts or seeds which have expired, have become mouldy or are not in good condition.

     "Since nuts, seeds and their products are generally high in energy, people should follow a balanced diet to avoid eating too many of them," he said.

     The spokesman also advised food manufacturers to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice for manufacturing food products and comply with the legal requirements when using and labelling food additives. The trade should also source materials from reliable suppliers.

Ends/Friday, November 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:14

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