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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 29) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. Of the 12 400 food samples tested, 13 samples of frozen confection failed microbiological tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 5 400 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 1 400 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 5 600 (including about 5 300 samples taken from food imported from Japan) were collected 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 3 700 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analyses. Results were all satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS completed the testing of about 1 000 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 samples were satisfactory.
Aquatic and related products
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The CFS took some 1 700 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analyses with all results satisfactory.
Additionally, in connection with the seasonal food surveillance on hairy crabs announced earlier last month, the CFS collected 19 samples of hairy crabs imported from overseas and the Mainland by air as scheduled and all of them passed chemical (veterinary drug residues, metallic contamination, synthetic hormones and colouring matters) and microbiological tests (including parasites).
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 600 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for analyses.
The total bacteria counts and coliform organisms of five samples of frozen confection of one flavour of the same brand were detected to range from 120 000 to 360 000 per gramme and 230 to 330 per gramme respectively.
The total bacteria counts of eight samples of frozen confection of two different flavours of another brand were found to range from 63 000 to 5 700 000 per gramme.
"Total bacteria counts and coliform organisms are hygienic indicators. The amounts detected exceeded the respective legal limits of 50 000 and 100 per gramme," the spokesman said.
The fact that the total bacteria count and coliform organisms exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning or pose adverse effect to health. But manufacturers should improve the hygienic condition when producing their products, the spokesman noted.
The two batches of samples were collected at the import level and all affected products were marked and sealed. None has entered the local market.
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives, and metallic contamination) were satisfactory.
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 4 900 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests. All test results were found to be satisfactory.
Testing of radiation level after Fukushima incident
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The CFS has been collecting about 50 000 food samples imported from Japan each year since the Fukushima incident in 2011 for testing of radiation levels. For aquatic and related products originating from Japan, the centre tested around 800 samples last month and all were satisfactory. Results of surveillance on food imported from Japan are uploaded to the CFS' website daily.
Conclusion
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The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the unsatisfactory samples. They included tracing the sources of the food items, marking and sealing the affected food for disposal later and taking prosecution action against the importer concerned.
The spokesman reminded importers that approval on the source of manufacture must be obtained from the FEHD before importing ice-cream or frozen confections. In addition, the trade should also maintain a good recording system in accordance with the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.
Consumers should buy ice-cream and frozen confections from reliable shops. They should also maintain a balanced diet to avoid eating ice-creams excessively as they are generally high in energy.
Ends/Friday, November 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:31
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