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¡@¡@The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (August 27) released its Food Safety Report for July, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
¡@¡@About 4,400 food samples were tested in July. Of these, about 2,900 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,300 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.4%, with 28 samples being found unsatisfactory.
¡@¡@While microbiological tests cover pathogens and viruses, chemical tests are to detect pesticides, preservatives and metallic contamination.
¡@¡@Samples included milk, milk products and frozen confections; vegetables, fruit and their products; meat, poultry and their products; aquatic products; and cereals, grains and their products.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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¡@¡@The CFS took about 800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. There were 10 unsatisfactory samples.
¡@¡@Five samples of red bean flavoured ice-cream bars of the same batch were found to contain coliform organisms at levels ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 per gramme. Another five samples of red bean, durian and sweet corn flavoured ice-cream bars of the same batch were found to contain coliform organisms at levels ranging from 170 to 600 per gramme. The total bacterial count for three of the latter five ice-cream bar samples ranged from 69,000 to 210,000 per gramme. All the levels detected exceeded the legal limit of 100 coliform organisms per gramme and 50,000 bacteria counts per gramme for these types of food.
¡@¡@All the samples were collected at import level for testing and all affected batches of products have been destroyed. The CFS has suspended the importation of the concerned products and asked the manufacturer to conduct an investigation. The relevant authority of the exporting country has also been informed.
¡@¡@The CFS will strengthen testings at import level to test every future consignment of the concerned brand of frozen confections imported into Hong Kong until it is satisfied with the results.
Vegetables, fruits and products
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¡@¡@About 1,800 samples of vegetables, fruit and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. A fresh mushroom sample and a Chinese flowering cabbage sample were found to contain the heavy metal cadmium at levels of 0.14ppm and 0.22ppm respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
¡@¡@All the samples tested for pathogens, pesticides, preservatives and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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¡@¡@The CFS collected about 500 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Four sample results were unsatisfactory.
¡@¡@For tests on preservatives, two fresh beef samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat, at levels of 87ppm and 120ppm respectively. A sample of processed pork meat was found to contain benzoic acid, which is not permitted to be used in that type of food, at a level of 3,700ppm.
¡@¡@On veterinary drug residues, a sample of chilled pork knuckle was found to contain clenbuterol, which is not permitted to be used, at a level of 0.0038ppm.
¡@¡@All the samples tested for pathogens and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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¡@¡@About 400 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. There were five unsatisfactory samples.
¡@¡@A swordfish sashimi sample, a tuna sashimi sample and a fish fillet sample were found to contain the heavy metal mercury at levels ranging from 0.68ppm to 1.3ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5ppm.
¡@¡@A sample of cooked brown crab was found to contain the heavy metal cadmium at a level of 12ppm, which was above the legal limit of 2ppm.
¡@¡@A smoked salmon sample was found to contain the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.
¡@¡@All the results for preservatives, veterinary drug residues and biotoxins were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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¡@¡@About 50 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals and all were satisfactory.
Other food commodities
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¡@¡@About 900 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested. There were seven unsatisfactory samples.
¡@¡@A sample of cheese dressing was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 700ppm. The sample was also found to contain sorbic acid at a level of 2,100ppm. A sample of thousand island dressing was found to contain benzoic acid and sorbic acid at levels of 830ppm and 1,900ppm respectively. Both sums of the proportion of individual levels of the respective preservatives detected in the two samples have exceeded the legal standard.
¡@¡@On colouring matters, a sample of lotus seed paste bun was found to contain the non-permitted Red 2G, while a curry powder sample was found to contain the non-permitted Sudan I, Sudan IV and Dimethyl Yellow.
¡@¡@A sample of preserved duck egg with bean curd and a sample of crab roe salad were found to contain the pathogen Salmonella. A sample of noodle with beef offal was found to contain Bacillus cereus at a level of 300,000 per gramme.
Conclusion
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¡@¡@The breaches included excessive or illegal use of food preservatives, veterinary drug residues, metallic contamination or colouring matters. A CFS spokesman urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practices and comply with legal requirements.
¡@¡@"The food trade should procure from reliable suppliers and keep a good record to facilitate source-tracing when necessary," the spokesman said.
¡@¡@"Importers of frozen confections are reminded to procure from reliable manufacturers to ensure that the products have been properly disinfected during production, and good hygienic conditions are always maintained at the production line and the plant.
¡@¡@"As food poisoning occurs more frequently in summer, the trade and public should follow the '5 Keys to Food Safety' (note) to minimise the risks of contracting food-borne diseases.
¡@¡@"Consumers should also buy food from reliable shops and maintain a balanced diet. Fish contain many essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and high quality proteins. Moderate consumption of a variety of fish is recommended," he said.
¡@¡@The CFS has taken follow-up action in respect of the unsatisfactory samples. These included tracing the food sources, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of the affected food, taking further samples and issuing warning letters. "If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will be taken," the spokesman said.
Note: "5 Keys to Food Safety" are (1) Choose - choose safe raw materials; (2) Clean - keep hands and utensils clean; (3) Separate - separate raw and cooked food; (4) Cook - cook thoroughly; (5) Safe Temperature - keep food at safe temperature.
Ends/Thursday, August 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01
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