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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. Other than two raisin samples, one candied water chestnut sample and one candied winter melon sample which were detected to have excessive sulphur dioxide (a preservative) and which were announced earlier, six samples of ice-cream and one peanut oil sample were found to be unsatisfactory out of the 11 400 food samples tested. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 4 700 food samples had been taken for chemical tests. Some 1 000 samples were collected for microbiological tests and the remaining 5 700 (including about 5 000 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 3 300 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for analysis. Except for the two raisin samples, one candied water chestnut sample and one candied winter melon sample mentioned earlier, all samples were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and their products
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The CFS completed the testing of about 800 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. Results were all satisfactory.
Aquatic and related products
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The CFS took some 1 600 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab and squid and their products for analysis. The results were all satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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About 500 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products were collected for analysis. Five banana-flavoured ice-cream samples of the same brand were found to contain coliform organisms at levels between 230 and 270 coliform count per gram, exceeding the legal limit of no more than 100 coliform count per gram. Additionally, the composition of one dark chocolate-flavoured ice-cream sample of the same brand was found not to comply with the legal requirements. It contained 2.1 per cent fat and 3.2 per cent milk solids other than fat while the legal requirements are not less than 5 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively.
"The ice-cream samples were collected at the import level and no affected products entered the local market. Coliform organisms exceeding the legal limit indicate unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but this does not mean it would lead to food poisoning. Besides, consuming ice-cream that contains fat and milk solids other than fat below the legal requirements would not pose any health concern," the spokesman said.
Results of other tests (e.g. melamine, preservatives, veterinary drug residues and colouring matters) 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 analysis. All samples passed the tests.
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 4 800 food samples consisting of mixed dishes, dim sum, beverages, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for tests. One peanut oil sample was found to contain Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) at a level of 15 micrograms (mcg) per kilogram (kg), exceeding the action level of 10 mcg per kg established by the CFS after consulting the Expert Committee on Food Safety.
"Upon normal consumption, the level of BaP found in the sample is unlikely to pose adverse health effects to consumers," the spokesman said.
Samples for other tests (e.g. colouring matters, metallic contaminations, veterinary drug residues) were satisfactory.
Testing of radiation level after Fukushima incident
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The CFS has been collecting over 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 900 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 all the unsatisfactory samples including tracing the source of the food items in question, asking the vendors concerned to stop the sale of the affected food and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to source food from reliable suppliers to ensure that their food is fit for consumption and meets legal requirements. They should only use cooking oil satisfying safety and quality requirements. The trade should also 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 balanced diet to minimize food risk.
Ends/Friday, February 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:31
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