2011 1st Issue

Feature Articles

1. Facilities
   • Ensure that adequate facilities, such as stove, refrigerator and heat-holding equipment are available.
2. Purchase and receipt of ingredients
   • Purchase ingredients from reliable suppliers.
   • Check the quality of the ingredients upon receipt.

• Maintain the following records at all times to facilitate follow-up actions on food poisoning or other food incidents:
  • list of schools to which meals are provided everyday (with information such as the types of food provided);
  • list of ingredient suppliers;
  • daily purchase record.
• If irregularities are identified, stop distributing the food immediately and take follow-up and remedial actions.

Schools should ensure that the suppliers will take the following measures if food is portioned on site:

• Cooked foods are stored in heat-insulating containers and kept at or above 60^oC.
• Chilled foods that require reheating are thoroughly reheated until the centre temperature reaches 75^oC or above for at least 30 seconds.
• Chilled foods are kept at 4^oC or below.
• There are adequate space, equipment (e.g. food warming devices) and manpower to maintain cleanliness and to portion and distribute the food efficiently.
• Food temperature is sampled before distributing the food. Hot foods are kept above 60^oC and chilled foods at 4^oC or below.
• Trash is properly disposed of to prevent pest infestation.

II. Methods to Reduce Acrylamide in Food

Acrylamide is a toxic and carcinogenic chemical that is found in many types of food. Research findings revealed that raw food and foodstuffs that are prepared by boiling do not contain high levels of acrylamide. Acrylamide is formed when food, particularly those rich in carbohydrate such as potato chips, crisps, breakfast cereals products and cookies are cooked at above 120^oC.

To reduce acrylamide in food, the trade should not cook food excessively, i.e. for too long or at too high temperature, and should reduce the provision of fried and fatty foods. However, all food (particularly meat and meat products) should be cooked thoroughly to destroy foodborne pathogens. For further information, please browse the following web sites:

http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/files/ras_acrylamide_2.pdf
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/
programme_rafs_fc_01_29_Acrylamide_in_Some_Popular_Foods.html

Readers' Corner

1. Enhance Food Traceability Strengthen Food Safety

   Food Safety Ordinance

   The Food Safety Ordinance (the Ordinance) was passed by the Legislative Council on 30 March 2011 and will commence on 1 August 2011. The Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism to help the Government trace the source of the food more effectively and take prompt action when dealing with food incidents. The food tracing mechanism includes:

   1. a registration scheme for food importers and distributors; and
   2. a requirement for food traders (including food importers, distributors and retailers) to keep records relating to movement of food.

   There is a six-month grace period for the two requirements, which will end on 31 January 2012. Members of the public may visit the dedicated web site of the Ordinance (www.foodsafetyord.gov.hk) to obtain more information.

   Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Food Distributors

   Under this Registration Scheme, all food importers and distributors are required to register with the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, except those who have already registered or have obtained a licence under other ordinances (listed at Schedule 1 of the Food Safety Ordinance). The fee levels for registration and renewal of registration for a three-year term are $195 and $180 respectively. Members of the public may refer to the Guide to the Registration Scheme for Food Importers and Food Distributors on the dedicated web site for details.

   Food importers and distributors may submit their applications in written form or by electronic means. Application forms can be downloaded from the dedicated web site or obtained from the following office:
   
   Food Importer / Distributor Registration and Import Licensing Office
   Food Import & Export Section,
   Centre for Food Safety,
   Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

2. Knowledge on Choosing "Organic Food"

   There is a wide range of goods on the shelves in a supermarket, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and various kinds of pre-packaged food. Hey! Sister Chinese flowering cabbage and Brother Eggplant are whispering ……

   Eggplant:		Look, Sister Chinese flowering cabbage! Petiole Chinese cabbage and Garland chrysanthemum on the opposite shelves are having a hard time.
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		Really? What happened to them?
   Eggplant:		You see……They are wrapped in transparent plastic bags with something resembling a seal being stuck on the package. They are really having a hard time!
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		Ha ha ha……Silly boy! They are wrapped in plastic bags because they are organic vegetables that have to be separated from other conventional vegetables. Apart from Petiole Chinese cabbage and Garland chrysanthemum, pre-packaged dried fruits and soya milk that are diagonally opposite us as well as the eggs and frozen meat in the refrigerator are all organic food.
   Eggplant:		Organic food? What is organic food?
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		Two major criteria need to be met before the food can be called "organic". Firstly, it has to be produced according to organic standards throughout the production, handling, processing and marketing stages. Secondly, it is certified as organic by a certification body or authority of the country of origin.
   Eggplant:		"Organic standards"? "Certification"? I really don't know what they mean!
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		Although it is hard to explain them clearly in a few words, I will try to do so anyway.
   Eggplant:		Good!
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		The purpose of organic production is to ensure that the production of food is kept "natural". For example, the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is avoided in planting. Farming, manures, hand weeding and biological pest control are adopted instead. The use of antibiotics, growth hormones and other feed additives is avoided in raising animals. In addition, no genetic modification and ionising radiation is applied in the entire food production process. Furthermore, personnel from independent certification bodies will conduct regular inspections for certification to ensure that the organic production standards have been followed throughout the production, handling, processing and marketing of organic food. Only certified food can be marked as "organic" for sale.
   Eggplant:		Wow……Organic production is really complicated. No wonder the prices of organic vegetables opposite us are higher than ours. How come there are still people willing to buy organic food which is in general more expensive than conventional food?
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		There are many different reasons for people choosing to buy organic food. For example, some may think that organic production is better for the environment and animal welfare. Eating organic food is one way to avoid the intake of pesticide residues and additives.
   Eggplant:		How can people tell which is organic food as there is no significant difference between organic and conventional foods in appearance? Is it true to say that it is organic if it is more expensive?
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		Ha ha ha……Of course not! Do you still remember, as you have mentioned earlier, that Petiole Chinese cabbage and Garland chrysanthemum on the opposite side carry a seal-like thing?
   Eggplant:		Yes.
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		That is not a seal at all. It is in fact an organic label. Products that have been certified by the certification bodies or authorities as organic food usually bear the approved labels or indications such as "certified by xxx" (xxx refers to the name of the certification body). In addition, some processed food may be partially made with organic materials. They may be labelled as "Made with Organic xxx" (xxx refers to the name of the organic materials). In choosing organic food, you can check if these labels are attached to the packages of the products.
   Eggplant:		From what you have said, words such as "natural", "manures", "green" and "pollution-free" do not necessarily mean "organic".
   Chinese flowering cabbage:		That's correct!

3. Oxalate Acid Food Poisoning

   There have been food poisoning cases resulting from the consumption of vegetables. After investigation, it was suspected that the vegetables might have been mixed with a small amount of oxalates-containing plants, thus causing food poisoning.

   Oxalate acid and oxalates (such as sodium oxalate, potassium oxalate, ammonium oxalate, calcium oxalate, iron oxalate and magnesium oxalate) occur naturally in certain plants and vegetables, but their usual content levels are not high and they are seldom associated with food poisoning. Oxalate acid, sodium oxalate, potassium oxalate and ammonium oxalate are water soluble while calcium oxalate, iron oxalate and magnesium oxalate are water insoluble. A number of studies have shown that whether oxalates in plants will cause food poisoning depends on the level of needle-shaped calcium oxalate which is water insoluble.

   People who consume plants with high level of water insoluble needle-shaped calcium oxalate (such as wild taro) may develop symptoms of food poisoning such as numbness and swelling over lips, burning sensation around mouth and in the throat.

   To reduce oxalate acid food poisoning due to the mix of vegetables and other plants, the public should buy vegetables from reputable shops, wash vegetables thoroughly before cooking and remove any plants mixed with the vegetables.

4. Safe Use of Melamine-ware

   Tableware products made of melamine-formaldehyde resins are generally described as melamine-ware. Owing to their strong durability, good chemical and heat resistance and low cost, melamine-ware products are widely used in Hong Kong and around the world. However, improper use and poor-quality of melamine-ware will lead to leaching out of excessive amount of formaldehyde or melamine and migration of formaldehyde or melamine residues into the foodstuff, thus posing threats to food safety. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has therefore conducted a study to examine the level of formaldehyde and melamine migration from melamine-ware available for use on local food premises in order to assess the safety of these products. The test results of all melamine-ware samples taken in the study were satisfactory, indicating that these products are safe for use. The full report of the study has been uploaded on the following web site:
   
   http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/
   files/RA_Study_on_Melamineware_Final_Report_Nov2010_e.pdf

   To ensure food safety, please refer to the following advice when using melamine-ware:

   1. Use melamine-ware according to product specifications and instructions.
   2. Do not use melamine-ware that is broken or damaged on its surface.
   3. Do not heat or cook food in melamine-ware.
   4. Do not use melamine-ware in microwave oven or conventional oven.
   5. Do not use melamine-ware to hold hot oil or highly acidic food.
   6. If melamine-ware is to be used for holding hot deep-fried food, cool the food down before putting it in the melamine-ware.
   7. For cleaning, do not use abrasive detergent and cleaning tools or strong chemicals which will damage the surface.

   
   
   

News on New Dishes

Safety tips on preparing Baked Scallop with Cheese

To continue with News on New Dishes for this issue, we interviewed another Signatory of the Food Safety Charter - Satay King. Baked Scallop with Cheese is one of Satay King's house specials. What actually are the tips for preparing this dish? Satay King's Kitchens Manageress Miss Janet Cheung told us that it is a prepared-when-ordered dish and the steps and tips for preparing this dish are as follows:

Pledges of Satay King:

1. Quality ingredients are of prime importance. Choose a licensed or approved supplier and inspect the health certificates for food. Inspect the food received and adopt the first-in-first-out principle for consumption of food to ensure food quality and hygiene.
2. Lay down a code of food hygiene and work procedures for staff to follow. Provide training for all the staff to ensure that they understand the hygiene code and work procedures.
3. Have in place a rigorous monitoring system to ensure food hygiene and environmental cleanliness.
4. Observe the principle of separate storage and preparation of raw food and cooked food (e.g. use different labelled utensils for handling raw food and cooked food to avoid cross contamination).
5. Provide directives for cooking time and temperature for all dishes to ensure that food is thoroughly cooked.
6. Equip the restaurant with a big refrigerated room for storing food. Temperature of the refrigerated room is checked and recorded by a cook every day to ensure that it functions properly.

Briefing of Activities

1. "Live it, Use it" Nutrition Labelling Promotion Award Scheme

   Almost one year after the implementation of the Nutrition Labelling Scheme, the nutrition label is now widely referred to by the general public when selecting food. To further promote the Scheme, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) launched the "Live it, Use it" Nutrition Labelling Promotion Award Scheme in the academic year 2010/2011. Jointly organised by the CFS and the Education Bureau, and supported by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, the Award Scheme aimed at encouraging students to more actively promote awareness of nutrition labelling on school campus. Through the Award Scheme, students took part in activities in which they learned to make good use of nutrition labels in daily life, and they also shared the benefits of doing so, thereby helping to promote nutrition labelling.

2. Talks and Exhibitions on Nutrition Labelling Scheme

   Between November and December 2010, the CFS held a series of talks on nutrition labelling and the 5 Keys to Food Safety. Dr Bruce Wong and Dr Alvin Chan were invited to be the speakers of the talks to explain to the public the correct ways of using nutrition labels. In addition, on 23-24 December 2010, the CFS set up a games booth and organised an exhibition to promote nutrition labelling at the 45th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo. The CFS would like to thank the public for their enthusiastic participation and support on both days. To boost the promotion of nutrition labelling, the CFS will continue to hold roving exhibitions at various venues across the territory. Activities of the roving exhibitions include display panels, games, video shows and souvenir giving. For details of the roving exhibitions, please visit the web site of the CFS.

Food Safety Q&A

Do we need to add preservatives to all prepackaged food?

Preservatives are added to food to protect it against deterioration, hence prolonging the shelf-life of food. Preservatives are capable of preventing or retarding the growth of micro-organisms, such as moulds, yeasts and bacteria in food. Preservatives can also reduce the effect of pathogenic micro-organisms on food, which helps safeguard food safety.

During the processing of prepackaged food, preservatives are added to inhibit the growth of spoilage and pathogenic micro-organisms in the food. Therefore, in general, prepackaged food available on the market has relatively longer shelf-life as compared with the same kind of food in the fresh state. Besides, there are other food processing procedures or packaging methods that have the same effect of prolonging the shelf-life of food.

Yet, adding preservatives is not the only way to preserve food. Pasteurisation can be used to preserve fresh milk which can deteriorate easily due to its naturally high bacterial level. By reducing the bacteria count in milk, pasteurisation can achieve the purpose of disinfection of milk but no preservative is used. After treatment and packaging, milk can have a longer shelf-life if it is stored at an appropriate temperature. By applying ultra high temperature treatment to the food to reduce its bacteria count and storing the food in can right after the treatment, some food can also be preserved without using preservatives. Provided that its package remains intact, such food enjoys a longer shelf-life even though it is stored at room temperature.

Truth against Fallacy

Are soybean milk and food nutritious and suitable for everyone?

In recent years, urban people have been keen on having a healthy diet. Soybean products, which are rich in nutrition and can help prevent cardiovascular diseases, are considered healthy food. The findings of studies show that soybean milk can effectively lower blood fat, prevent arteries from hardening and reduce the risk of getting chronic illnesses related to blood vessels of the brain and heart. Besides, the isoflavones in soybeans help prevent osteoporosis and cancers.

However, soybeans in fact contain various kinds of harmful substances. The phytic acid content in soybeans is several times higher than that of all seeds, nuts and pods. Phytic acid will mix with certain essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc in the food passing the intestine and form plant salt which is water insoluble and cannot be taken in by the body, thus preventing the intake of essential minerals in intestine. Soybeans also contain trypsin inhibitor which hampers digestion and intake of protein, causing excessive gas and indigestion.

To reduce the impacts of these harmful substances in soybeans, the trade is advised to soak and cook the beans in boiling water thoroughly before preparing them.

Brain Gym

Siu Ming goes to supermarket to buy biscuits for his grandfather who has high blood pressure and should avoid food with high salt content.
Siu Ming finds two brands of biscuits. However, the nutrient information on their nutrition labels is set out in different ways and Siu Ming has no idea how to compare the content of nutrients in these two biscuit products. Which brand do you think he should choose for his grandfather?

Brand A biscuit

Nutrition Information 營養資料 Per 100 g/每100克 Energy/能量 218 kcal/千卡 Protein/蛋白質 5.5 g/克 Total fat/總脂肪 -Saturated fat/飽和脂肪 -Trans fat/反式脂肪 8 g/克 3.5 g/克 0 g/克 Carbohydrates/碳水化合物 -Sugars/糖 32 g/克 1 g/克 Sodium/鈉 365 mg/毫克
Brand B biscuit Nutrition Information 營養資料 Servings Per Package/每包裝含食用分量數目: 8 Serving Size/食用分量: 3 pieces(30 g)/ 3塊(30克)   Per Serving/每食用分量 Energy/能量 180 kcal/千卡 Protein/蛋白質 4 g/克 Total fat/總脂肪 -Saturated fat/飽和脂肪 -Trans fat/反式脂肪 6 g/克 3 g/克 0 g/克 Carbohydrates/碳水化合物 -Sugars/糖 25 g/克 1 g/克 Sodium/鈉 120 mg/毫克

Answer:
Siu Ming should choose Brand A biscuit.
Look at the sodium content of the two biscuit products to compare their salt content.
To facilitate comparison, calculate the sodium content "per 100 g" instead of "per serving" for Brand B biscuit.
Sodium content per 100 g of Brand B biscuit = Sodium content per serving of Brand B biscuit / Weight of per serving of Brand B biscuit x 100 = 120 / 30 x 100 = 400 mg (i.e. 100 g of Brand B biscuit contains 400 mg of sodium).
Brand A biscuit contains 365 mg of sodium per 100 g, which is less than Brand B biscuit containing 400 mg of sodium per 100 g. Siu Ming should choose Brand A biscuit.