CFS announces food safety report for July

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 12 200 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for 17 unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said about 1 100 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 4 700 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 6 400 (including about 5 600 taken from food imported from Japan) were collected to test 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 4 100 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 600 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 600 samples of aquatic and related products; 700 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 800 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 4 400 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The 17 unsatisfactory samples comprised five vegetable and fruit samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits; three sunflower oil samples detected with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP); two durian samples detected with curcumin, a colouring matter which should not be added to fruit and vegetables in a raw and unprocessed state, in their husks; two eel samples found with trace amounts of malachite green; two fresh beef samples found to contain the preservative sulphur dioxide; a bamboo fungus sample detected with excessive cadmium; a soft ice-cream sample detected with a coliform count exceeding the legal limit; and a preserved bean curd sample found with Bacillus cereus.

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 affected 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 July 31 this year, the CFS had taken over 74 500 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 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.

Furthermore, in view of the detection of trace amounts of malachite green in several eel samples in June, the CFS has been closely following up on the matter and has stepped up surveillance on eels. All eel samples taken for malachite green tests after July 7 were found to be satisfactory.

Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Major agricultural economies such as the Mainland, the European Union, Canada and the United States prohibit the use of the chemical in food fish. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

BaP is one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are contaminants ubiquitous in the environment. BaP is toxic to genes and can cause cancer in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has classified BaP as "carcinogenic to humans". The intake of BaP should be avoided as far as practicable.

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/Wednesday, August 31, 2016