CFS announces food safety report for January

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 9 800 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for two unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said about 1 400 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 3 800 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 4 600 (including about 4 500 taken from food imported from Japan) were collected for testing of radiation levels.

The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators, while the chemical tests aimed at detecting pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others.

The samples comprised about 3 100 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 500 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 300 samples of aquatic and related products; 700 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 600 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 3 600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The two unsatisfactory samples comprised a choi sum sample detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit and a chocolate milk beverage sample found with a colony count exceeding the legal limit.

The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the trade concerned of the test results, instructing the vendors concerned to stop selling the incriminated food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.

Since the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) came into effect on August 1, 2014, as of January 31 this year, the CFS had taken over 49 600 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.3 per cent.

The spokesman added that excessive pesticide residues in food may arise from the trade not observing Good Agricultural Practice, e.g. using excessive pesticides and/or not allowing sufficient time for pesticides to decompose before harvesting. The maximum residue limit (MRL) of pesticide residues in food is not a safety indicator. It is the maximum concentration of pesticide residues to be permitted in a food commodity under the Good Agricultural Practice when applying pesticides. In this connection, consumption of food with pesticide residues higher than the MRL will not necessarily lead to any adverse health effects.

The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Ends/Monday, February 29, 2016