*******************************************************
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 16) released the test results for 26 samples on malachite green.
They included seven samples of freshwater fish, seven of marine fish, six of chilled fish, two of fish meat and four of canned fish.
¡§Among them, three samples, comprising one live tiger grouper and two canned mud carp, were found to have the chemical,¡¨ a spokesman for the department said.
The sample of ¡§GANZHU BRAND Fried Dace with Salted Black Beans¡¨ (Code: 4724; R56 PRD: 29/08/05; EXP: 29/08/08l; Bar code: 6902534023811) and ¡§Eagle Coin FRIED DACE WITH SALTED BLACK BEANS¡¨ (Code: R1 2005/08/30/4720; B.B. 30/08/2008; Bar code: 6901012021387) were detected to contain malachite green at 2.6 micrograms/kilogram (ug/kg) and 4.5 ug/kg respectively. They were collected from two local chain retail stores.
The tiger grouper sample, collected from a fish stall in Cheung Chau Market, was found to contain the chemical at 250 ug/kg.
The spokesman said the level of the chemical in the food products should pose no immediate health hazards.
He added that in the test results released last week, a very low level of malachite green was found in the sample of ¡§PEARL RIVER BRIDGE FRIED DACE WITH SALTED BLACK BEANS¡¨ and ¡§YUPIN GOLDEN FRIED DACE WITH PRESERVED VEGETABLE¡¨. The chemical was not detected in the samples of another batch of the food products in the latest tests.
¡§The FEHD has taken immediate follow-up action with the suppliers concerned to stop the sale of the same batch of food products in question. The presence of malachite green in all food sold in Hong Kong is prohibited under the Harmful Substance in Food (Amendment) Regulation.
¡§The department will also inspect retail outlets and collect the food products for further tests,¡¨ he added.
Ends/Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:47
NNNN
