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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said today (January 17) that the Centre recently collected 432 Lunar New Year food samples for chemical and microbiological tests. Six failed to meet compliance and results for the remaining samples were all satisfactory.
The tested samples included festive cakes, turnip puddings, sesame balls, crispy triangles, melon seeds, glutinous rice balls, vegetarian foods, preserved meat, dried seafood and "poon choi". The chemical tests targeted preservatives, colouring matters, sweeteners, metallic contamination, pesticides and toxins. Microbiological tests covered pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella.
All the samples tested passed the microbiological tests. For the chemical tests, there were six unsatisfactory samples, including dried daylily flowers, dried shrimp, sweetened winter-melon and glutinous rice ball (with peanut filling).
The dried daylily flower sample and two samples of sweetened winter-melon were found to contain preservative sulphur dioxide at levels of 16,000ppm, 2,300ppm and 3,200ppm respectively, exceeding the permitted level of 2,000ppm. Two samples of glutinous rice balls (with peanut filling) were found to contain aflatoxins at levels of 0.046ppm and 0.059ppm respectively. The permitted level of aflatoxins in peanut products is 0.02ppm. A dried shrimp sample was found to contain boric acid, which is not permitted in food.
"Sulphur dioxide is commonly used in food as a preservative and as a bleaching agent. As for aflatoxins, they may be found in agricultural commodities such as peanuts, nuts and cereals if they are contaminated by specific type of mould. Under favourable conditions of temperature and humidity, the moulds could produce the toxin. Boric acid is not allowed for use in food.
Although the sulphur dioxide content in the dried daylily flower sample is relatively high, as it is water soluble, most of the sulphur dioxide can be removed after thorough soaking, washing and cooking. As for the other samples containing sulphur dioxide, aflatoxin and boric acid, the levels detected are low and should not cause immediate health effect upon normal consumption.
Regarding the six unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has issued warning letters to the shops concerned and is tracing the source of the food in question. Those shops had stopped selling the products concerned," a CFS spokesman said.
The satisfactory rate for the testings on Lunar New Year Food is 99%. The CFS will continue to collect samples of Lunar New Year food for testing. Results will be announced by end of this month.
The centre recently also completed two targeted food surveillance projects. These are the projects on "colouring matters in chili and curry seasonings" and "malachite green in aquatic products".
The CFS collected 200 samples of chili and curry sauce/powder for tests on colouring matters, such as Sudan dyes, Orange II, Rhodamine B. Except for a chili sauce sample which was found to contain the non-permitted Rhodamine B, all the other sample results were satisfactory.
As for the project on "malachite green in aquatic products", the CFS collected 261 samples, including a variety of fish, fish products (minced fish and fish ball), shrimp and shellfish, for testing. Apart from a frozen bream fillet sample announced earlier, three other samples were found to contain trace amounts of malachite green.
"The three samples were minced mud carp, frozen bream fillet and clam meat, and the levels of malachite green detected were 0.0034ppm, 0.0037ppm and 0.0057ppm respectively. At the levels detected, normal consumption should not pose any adverse health effects," the spokesman said.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory samples in these surveys, the CFS had taken follow-up actions, including issuing warning letters to the shops concerned and tracing the source of the food in question. Those shops have stopped selling the products concerned, and the affected batch of chili sauce was disposed of," he said.
Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Chapter 132AF), no one shall sell, for human consumption, any food which contains malachite green. Under the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Chapter 132H), no food intended for human consumption shall contain any added colouring matter which is not a permitted colouring matter. Offenders, if convicted, are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, January 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:53
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