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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 4) that a batch of chilled tuna imported from Japan was found to contain a metal contaminant, mercury, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.
A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected a sample of the above-mentioned tuna at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained mercury at a level of 0.92 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 ppm."
"Mercury may affect the nervous system, particularly the developing brain. At high levels, mercury can affect foetal brain development, and affect vision, hearing, muscle co-ordination and memory in adults. Furthermore, as some international organisations such as the World Health Organization have pointed out, consuming predatory fish species is the main source of mercury intake for human beings. The report of the CFS' Total Diet Study has also pointed out that large fish or predatory fish species may contain high mercury levels (for example, tuna, alfonsino, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and king mackerel). Hence, groups particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of mercury, such as pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children, should opt for fish that are smaller in size for consumption and avoid consumption of the above-mentioned types of fish which may contain high mercury levels to minimise the health risk posed to the foetus, infants and young children by excessive exposure to metallic contaminants in food. People are advised to maintain a balanced and varied diet," he added.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:24
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