2011 4th Issue

Published by the Centre for Food Safety

Feature Article

Oyster Orgy

As winter approaches, oysters become in season, and oyster lovers are gearing up for their hearty feasts. It brings business opportunities to the catering industry. Eateries and restaurants offer tempting oyster dishes. But oysters must be handled carefully throughout the preparation process; otherwise they may lead to food poisoning of customers and subsequent damage to one’s reputation.

Oysters, just like other shellfish, are filter-feeders, consuming plankton while filtering the water for food. Thus, they are easily contaminated by bacteria (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and viruses (e.g. hepatitis A virus and norovirus). Consumption of undercooked oysters contaminated with pathogens may pose a high risk of foodborne illness.

Oysters are susceptible to contamination by pathogens like bacteria or virus, and must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

In preparation of oysters (e.g. deep-fried oyster, braised oyster with ginger and spring onion, and braised oyster with port wine), food handlers should remain vigilant to ensure customers’ food safety. Apart from observing personal, utensil and environmental hygiene, they should take the following precautions:

1. Purchase:

• Buy oysters from reliable suppliers and maintain transaction records for tracing of the source when needed.
• Inspect incoming goods carefully to ensure that the oysters are fresh and free from abnormal odour. If ordering prepackaged oysters, one must also check the expiry date printed on the label.
• Pay attention to whether the suppliers have kept the oysters at a proper temperature, i.e. fresh oysters should be kept at 4°C or below and frozen oysters at -18°C or below.
• Whenever in doubt of the source of the oysters, stop preparing them and stop purchasing oysters from the same supplier.

2. Storage:

• Incoming oysters must be kept at a proper temperature within two hours upon receipt. For example, fresh oysters should be kept at 4°C or below and frozen oysters at -18°C or below.
• Oysters must be put in containers with lids before refrigeration and stored below cooked food or ready-to-eat food. Avoid contact with other cooked food or ready-to-eat food to prevent cross-contamination.
• Fresh oysters stored at proper temperature should be consumed within one or two days, whereas prepackaged oysters should be consumed before the expiry date to ensure quality and food safety of the oysters.

3. Preparation:

• Thaw the oysters completely under running water.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds before and after handling the oysters to prevent cross-contamination with other cooked food or ready-to-eat food.
• Use separate utensils to handle raw oysters and cooked food or ready-to-eat food to avoid cross-contamination.
• Before cooking, wash the oysters and their shells thoroughly.
• Remove the intestines of oysters completely before cooking.

An array of pamphlets and guidelines are provided by the CFS for reference of the public and the trade.

4. Cooking:

• Scald the oysters in boiling water for not less than three minutes before cooking to eliminate the bacteria and viruses in the oysters.
• Cook the oysters thoroughly, ensuring heating to a core temperature of 90°C for 90 seconds.
• Do not cook a large amount of oysters in one go as this will cause uneven heating and result in some of the oysters not fully cooked to the required core temperature.

5. Consumption:

• When having hotpot, use separate chopsticks and utensils for handling raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination.
• To ensure thorough cooking, wait until the hotpot soup is boiling hot before adding the food.

Readers' Corner

Plasticiser Incident

Various juice drinks were found to contain plasticisers by the Taiwan authority.

In May 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Taiwan announced that a plasticiser di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) had been detected in 16 samples of drinks. Subsequently, more foods were found to contain DEHP as well as other plasticisers, including di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP). Investigations conducted by the Taiwan authority revealed that clouding agents (i.e. emulsifiers) containing plasticisers were found to be added to food products and the clouding agents concerned were formulated by two manufacturers using plasticisers in an attempt to reduce cost and increase stability

Following the Taiwanese announcement, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has maintained contact with the Taiwan authority and collected samples of food likely to be contaminated by plasticisers for testing. As of 30 September 2011, more than 1 020 food samples were tested. Among them, 49 samples were found unsatisfactory and confirmed to be tainted by plasticisers. The CFS immediately notified the trade and made announcements advising the public not to consume the products in question.

From 24 August 2011 when the last unsatisfactory sample was found to the end of September 2011, all plasticiser test results for a cumulative total of 123 food samples were satisfactory. In view of this, the CFS decided to subsume the testing of plasticisers in food, conducted previously under a targeted approach, within its routine food surveillance programme from 3 October 2011 onwards. The test results will be announced in the Food Safety Report issued monthly and available on the following website:
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/consumer_zone/ foodsafety_surveillance.html

Food Safety Charter 2011/12

Launched in 2008, the Food Safety Charter (the Charter) is an endeavour jointly promoted by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the food trade. Each signatory of the Charter is committed to upholding food safety as the focus of attention in the provision of quality services to customers. This year, a total of 21 food trade associations and over 2 200 food premises, food retailers and other members of the food trade have signed up to the Charter, among which more than 1 300 signatories have kept up their commitment for three consecutive years since 2009 and they will be granted a Star Award/Award in recognition of their determination in ensuring food safety.

Charter certificates and stickers displayed by the signatories on their premises
 
Signatories can keep abreast of the latest developments and information of the CFS and the Charter through the Newsletter of Food Safety Charter published by the CFS. Moreover, activities organsied by the CFS, like the Charter Annual Meeting held early this year, enable signatories to strengthen their networks and share experience with their counterparts.

Newsletter of Food Safety Charter keeps the signatories posted of the CFS's latest developments

During the year, the CFS held a series of roving exhibitions on the Charter in various districts with a new set of exhibition panels. Apart from introducing the Charter, these panels also provided information on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System as well as the risk management measures taken by the signatories in their day-to-day operations, with a view to enhancing public knowledge on the signatories’ efforts in ensuring food safety. Moreover, information of all signatories by districts was displayed on monitors for public access.

A new set of exhibition panels for the Food Safety Charter showing measures taken by the signatories in ensuring food safety

Information of signatories is displayed on monitors during roving exhibitions

A signatory list is posted on the CFS’s website (www.cfs.gov.hk) for public access. In addition, the mobile application FSCharter is now available for download via smart phones. This mobile application not only facilitates the public to obtain information and brief guides of the signatories at any time and at any place, but also enables users to make reservations by phone, thus drawing the public and the signatories much closer together.

FSCharter facilitates public searching of signatories' information

News on New Dishes

Delicate Cooking of the Delicious "Osmanthus Honey Rice Cake"
The Express has interviewed “Xiao Nan Guo”, a signatory of the Food Safety Charter. “Xiao Nan Guo” specialises in Shanghai cuisine. The masterful Shanghai chefs will each day meticulously prepare delicious and unique Shanghai dishes that are well received by diners. “Osmanthus Honey Rice Cake” is one of the famous desserts produced by “Xiao Nan Guo”. Mr. TUNG Man-hong, the Executive Chef – South China & Overseas Market of “Xiao Nan Guo”, will teach us how to prepare this dessert.

Osmanthus honey rice cakes ready to serve

Ingredients:

Ingredients for the Rice Cake	Tips
Glutinous rice flour	Use a sieve to sift the flour so as to remove foreign objects or coarse particles, leaving the flour smooth and fine.
Granulated white sugar	Do not use sugar that has got damp or is mixed with impurities.
Boiled Water	Use filtered water or boiled water only.
Peanut oil	It can be replaced by olive oil.
Wine	Use Wuliangye liquor which has a special fragrance.

Cooking Method:

Preparation of the Rice Cake	Tips
Mix glutinous rice flour and white granulated sugar in a bowl. Add peanut oil and wine and blend them together with hands until the mixture is dampened.	Pay attention to whether there are foreign objects such as dead insects in the mixture during blending.
Add a small amount of boiled water (approximately two or three tablespoons) and continue to stir until the mixture is fully blended. Repeat the procedure above until the mixture forms a smooth batter.	Check that there is no contaminant in the boiled water. Do not add a lot of water in one go. Add water slowly and keep stirring until the mixture is well blended. Make sure there are no lumps in the batter or it may affect the texture.
Pour the batter into the moulds and cover them with microwave-safe plastic wrap.	Do not fill up the mould to the rim. Cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap to avoid any condensation dripping onto the batter.
Place the moulds in the steamer or wok when water is boiled up. With the lid on, steam for 20 minutes.	Do not put the moulds in the steamer or wok before water is boiled up.
Remove steamed cakes from the moulds and place them on a plate. Pour osmanthus syrup over the cakes and serve.	The cake tastes much better when it is hot.

Tips from Chef TUNG:

The “Xiao Nan Guo” Group purchases ingredients from reputable licensed food suppliers to reduce any food safety risks. In doing so, in case there are problems with the food, the source is traceable. When necessary, the staff will ask the suppliers to provide health certificates for the ingredients. After receiving the stocks, they will carefully check the quality and package of the food and demand the return of any problem food to the suppliers immediately. Quality ingredients can make both tasty and safe food.

Chef TUNG specifically mentioned that the starters, desserts and main courses of their Group were all made to order. This not only ensures the delicious taste of the dish, but also prevents cooked food from cross-contamination during storage.

The Group also attaches great importance to hygiene training for their staff and stresses good personal hygiene. For example, the staff are required to take off their accessories when preparing food in order to prevent the accessories from falling into the food. This can also avoid transmitting bacteria to the food through the accessories which may harbour dirt. Kitchen staff must wear gloves which have been sprayed with edible disinfectant during the preparation of food. In addition, the worktops must be washed before and after work, and must be cleaned with edible disinfectant before the handling of food. To enable the staff to meet the hygiene requirements, all kitchens under the Group are provided with adequate facilities and items, such as disinfecting fluid and plastic gloves.

Being a signatory of the Food Safety Charter, the “Xiao Nan Guo” Group aims at providing high quality food. The Group also joins hands with the Government to promote food safety to the public.

Food Safety Plan Corner

Preparation of the Delicious "Osmanthus Honey Rice Cake"

Ingredients:

Glutinous rice flour, granulated white sugar, peanut oil, Wuliangye liquor, dried osmanthus flowers and syrup

Steps:

1. Place glutinous rice flour and granulated white sugar in a bowl and mix well. Add peanut oil and Wuliangye liquor to the mixture and stir until it is completely moistened.
2. Add two to three tablespoons of water. Keep stirring until water fully blends with the mixture and to form a batter.
3. Pour the batter into a steam mould. Cover with plastic wrap. Steam in a pre-heated steamer for 20 minutes. Then remove the well-cooked rice cake from the mould.
4. Rinse the dried osmanthus flowers and pat them dry. Cook syrup over low heat until it is lukewarm. Add the osmanthus flowers and cook briefly. Pour the syrup over the rice cake to serve.

Briefing of Activities

(1) Trade Talk and Workshop on HACCP

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) organised totally 24 sessions of Trade Talk and Workshop on HACCP in 2011. Employees of the food business were invited to attend. The CFS hoped, through the talk, to explain and promote to the employees the application of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System so that the participants could understand the importance of food safety and increase their relevant knowledge and techniques.

(2) Food Safety Seminar for Thai Restaurants

Food poisoning cases occurred from time to time. According to the records of the CFS, there were 74 food poisoning cases related to Thai restaurants over the past three years, and nearly 500 people were affected. In view of this, the CFS organised a food safety seminar for Thai restaurants in December 2011 in the Kowloon City District, where many Thai restaurants operated. Employees of Thai restaurants were invited to attend. Through the seminar, these employees got a better understanding of proper food handling so as to ensure food safety. Employees of Thai restaurants in the Kowloon City District participated enthusiastically in this seminar.

(3) Trade Consultation Forum

The CFS held the 31st meeting of the Trade Consultation Forum on 9 September 2011. At the meeting, the CFS reported the latest situation of the Small Volume Exemption applications and gave an account of the latest developments of the following food safety issues, including the progress of follow-up actions on plasticiser contamination, progress update on the public consultation on the Proposed Regulatory Framework for Pesticide Residues in Food in Hong Kong, advice on mushroom poisoning, trade guidelines on reducing salt in food, microbiological quality of non-prepackaged beverages mixed or topped with solid ingredients in Hong Kong and impact of the Nutrition Labelling Scheme on the food choice of individuals with food allergy. Members of the trade put forward enthusiastically a lot of valuable opinions and requests at the meeting. The CFS would like to thank them for their participation.

Food Safety Q&A

Purple sweet potatoes will undergo colour changes?

The purple sweet potato is a tasty food for both the old and the young. Have you ever found purple sweet potatoes turning to a different colour during the cooking process? Have you suspected the use of artificial colouring in these potatoes? But actually this is not the case. The purple sweet potato contains a natural colour known as anthocyanin, which will exhibit colour changes over a wide range of pH. Anthocyanins are not only present in purple sweet potatoes, but also in many edible fruits and vegetables such as grapes, berries and red cabbages, and are generally innocuous for human consumption. Colour seepage when processing purple sweet potatoes is thus a natural phenomenon that we need not worry about. In fact, the nutritional value of sweet potatoes is very high. They have a rich content of dietary fibre. When taken in moderation, they can help accelerate the intestinal movement and prevent constipation. Moreover, sweet potatoes have lots of calcium, potassium and vitamins A, C and B etc. Cooked (e.g. baked, roasted, boiled or steamed) sweet potatoes with no seasoning added or dried sweet potatoes can be regarded as a low-fat, low-sodium and high-fibre healthy snack.

Members of the trade should pay attention to the following points when buying sweet potatoes:

• Do not buy from unlicensed on-street hawkers. Purchase the potatoes from shops that are reputable.
• Avoid buying sweet potatoes with black spots or abnormally intense colour or those sold at an excessively low price.
• Do not buy the potatoes when in doubt.

Finally, please be reminded that ready-to-eat sweet potatoes sold must be thoroughly cooked. Otherwise indigestion and discomforts such as abdominal distension will result upon consumption. If sweet potatoes are to be cooked unpeeled, their skin must be scrubbed clean beforehand.

Truth against Fallacy

Is Low Fat Food Always Healthier?

While some prepackaged food products bear a low fat claim, they may be rich in other components like sugars and sodium. When purchasing prepackaged food as ingredients for dishes / food products, the trade is advised to take into account the level of other nutrients, including saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids. After choosing the most suitable ingredients, one should make sure that the ingredients are added in the right amount.

Fat can enrich the taste and texture of food. Among its various bodily functions, fat is the carrier of fat-soluble vitamins (i.e. vitamin A, D, E and K) and is the structural component of cell membrane. However, in the long run, excessive intake of fat, particularly by consuming lots of foods high in saturated or trans fatty acids, will increase the risk of having chronic diseases such as heart disease. Furthermore, as all fatty acids carry the same amount of energy, too much of it will still make one fat. To effectively reduce the fat content in foods so as to offer a healthier food choice for consumers, the trade is advised to use low-fat ingredients and healthy cooking methods (e.g. cook with less oil or even no oil instead of pan-frying or deep-frying). Also, one should avoid using ingredients that are high in saturated fatty acids (e.g. palm oil products, animal skin and fat, processed meat including luncheon meat, sausage, etc.) and those that contain hydrogenated vegetable oil (e.g. hard margarine, shortening, cookies etc.).