Targeted food surveillance on snacks and soup mix
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently conducted a targeted food surveillance project to assess the level of colouring matters in spicy snacks and soup mix.
The centre collected 100 samples of spicy snacks (including potato chips, prawn chips and corn chips) and 100 samples of soup mix from supermarkets and retail outlets for the testing of colouring matters, including Sudan dyes, Acid Red 52, Orange II, Yellow OB, Dimethyl Yellow. Among the samples tested, only three samples were found to contain non-permitted colouring matters. Results for the other samples were all satisfactory.
Of the three samples, a corn chip sample and a spicy sliced cuttlefish sample were found to contain trace amounts of Sudan dyes. And a rice cracker sample was found to contain Acid Red 52.
Under the law, Sudan dyes and Acid Red 52 are not permitted to be used in food. The maximum penalty for selling food containing added non-permitted colouring matter is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
"For the current survey, based on the low levels of Sudan dyes detected and the low toxicity of Acid Red 52, normal consumption of the products is unlikely to pose adverse health effects," a CFS spokesman said.
"The samples were collected from three supermarkets. The CFS has taken follow-up actions, including issuing warning letters to the food premises concerned and asking them to stop selling the batch of food items detected with the non-permitted colouring matters."
Ends/Friday, August 3, 2007
