CFS announces food safety report for October
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 13 800 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for 21 unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 1 600 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 4 600 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 7 600 (including about 7 000 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 3 900 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 900 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 600 samples of aquatic and related products; 1 100 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 800 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 5 500 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The 21 unsatisfactory samples comprised seven crab samples detected with excessive cadmium, a metallic contaminant; five vegetable samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits; three frozen confection samples detected with counts of hygiene indicator organisms exceeding the legal limits; a fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative; an egg noodle sample detected with excessive sulphur dioxide; a satay paste sample found to contain preservatives, benzoic acid and sorbic acid, exceeding the legal limits; a vinegar sample detected with ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate, a preservative; a roast pork sample found to contain Salmonella, a pathogen; and a cut papaya sample detected with Salmonella.
The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them 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 October 31 this year, the CFS had taken over 85 300 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 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.
The edible portion of crabs' cephalothorax (mainly consists of internal organs like crab roes and hepatopancreas) are generally tainted with higher levels of cadmium and other contaminants. People who consume more crabs should avoid consuming crabs' cephalothorax.
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, November 30, 2016