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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (February 28) released the findings of its food safety report for January 2011. Of the 6,500 food samples tested, seven were found to be unsatisfactory and the overall satisfactory rate was 99.9%.
A CFS spokesman said about 4,900 food samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 1,600 for microbiological and other tests.
The microbiological tests cover pathogens while the chemical tests are aimed to detect pesticides, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters and veterinary drug residues, etc.
The samples included vegetables, fruits and their products; meat, poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables, fruits and products
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The CFS took about 2,700 samples of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, preserved vegetables and pickled fruits, dried vegetables and ready-to-eat vegetables for microbiological and chemical analyses. All samples were found satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS took about 700 samples of fresh, chilled and frozen pork, beef and poultry, ready-to-eat dishes of meat and poultry served at food premises, the meat and poultry made products such as Chinese preserved meat, sausage and ham for microbiological and chemical analyses.
Two samples of frozen suckling pig were found to contain veterinary drug residues exceeding the legal limits. One sample was found to contain Chlortetracycline at a level of 0.35 parts per million (ppm) while the other was found to have Oxytetracycline at a level of 0.54 ppm. The legal limit for both veterinary drugs is 0.1 ppm.
"The detected levels of Chlortetracycline and Oxytetracycline found in the suckling pig samples were low. Normal consumption of food with the same level of the veterinary drugs is unlikely to pose adverse health effects," the spokesman said.
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives and colouring matters) were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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The CFS took about 900 samples of fish, shellfish, shrimp, prawn, crab, squid and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Three samples were found unsatisfactory.
One sample of bigeye fish was found to contain Ponceau 4R, a non-permitted colouring matter in fresh fish.
One sample of black crucian carp and another of freshwater grouper were found to have a forbidden veterinary drug, malachite green, at levels of 0.16ppm and 0.18ppm respectively.
The spokesman said, "Ponceau 4R is a permitted colouring matter in certain food but not in fresh fish. It is of low toxicity and is unlikely to pose any adverse effect on consumers. Normal consumption of food with the same levels of malachite green in the other two fishes is unlikely to pose adverse health effects."
Results of other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives, metallic contamination and biotoxins) were found to be satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 600 samples of ice-cream, cheese, milk and milk products for microbiological and chemical tests. All test results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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The CFS took about 200 samples of rice, noodles, flour, bread and breakfast cereal for microbiological and chemical tests.
One sample of rice noodles was found to have cadmium at a level of 0.24ppm, above the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
The spokesman said, "Occasional consumption of food with the detected level of cadmium will not cause adverse health effects, but consumption on a long-term basis may affect the nervous system."
All the remaining samples passed other tests (e.g. pathogens, preservatives, sweeteners and colouring matters).
Other food commodities
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The CFS took about 1,400 samples of mixed dishes, beverages, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, sugar, sweets, condiments, sauces, snacks, eggs and egg products for analyses.
One sample of flat noodles with beef flank and fish balls was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella.
The spokesman said, "Salmonella may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea."
Dioxins
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In view of the detection of dioxins in Germany in some eggs, poultry and pork produced there in early January, samples of eggs, poultry as well as pork and pork products imported from the country have been collected from the local market and at the import level to test for dioxins.
By the end of January, a total of 66 samples passed dioxin tests.
Conclusion
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The spokesman urged consumers to patronise licensed restaurants and reliable food suppliers as well as maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risk.
He also advised the food trade to comply with the legal requirements and follow Good Manufacturing Practice, using permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and maintain a good recording system to allow source tracing if necessary.
The fact that pathogens had been detected in some food samples, the spokesman said, was an indication that the food processing was unhygienic. The food trade should always follow the "Five Keys to Food Safety" during food preparation to prevent foodborne diseases.
Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions including asking the vendors concerned to stop selling and to dispose of the affected food, taking follow-up samples and issuing warning letters. Prosecution will be taken if there is sufficient evidence.
Ends/Monday, February 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:34
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