Food Safety Focus (151st Issue, February 2019) – Food Incident Highlight

Pesticides Residues in Strawberries

Recently, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration reported that fresh strawberries imported from Fukuoka of Japan were detected with pesticide residues that had exceeded the regulatory standards in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, the levels of pesticide residues in food are regulated under the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM). A total of 167 strawberry samples were collected from 2016 to 2018 for pesticide residue level analysis and all tested samples were found satisfactory. Enhanced food surveillance of strawberries imported from Japan was conducted and the results of all samples were satisfactory. In addition, risk assessment conducted on the pesticide residues detected by Taiwan authority did not implicated any possible health risk.

The trade is advised to source food from reputable suppliers. Consumers are recommended to rinse fruits or vegetables thoroughly under clean running water to remove dirt and substances from the surface and the crevices.