Food safety report released
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (August 9) released its third Food Safety Report for 2007, which included food surveillance results for May and June.
Announcing the results at a press conference, Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of the CFS, Dr Constance Chan, said some 10,600 food samples were tested in May and June. Among them, some 4,100 samples were taken for microbiological tests and about 6,300 for chemical tests.
"The overall satisfactory rate is 99.7%, with 35 samples failing the tests," she said.
While microbiological tests cover pathogenic bacteria and viruses, chemical tests are conducted to detect chemicals such as antioxidants, sweeteners, preservatives, heavy metals, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and pesticides.
Food samples tested included vegetables, fruits and products; meat, poultry and products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and products.
Vegetables, fruits and products
About 4,100 vegetable, fruit and their product samples were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. There were six unsatisfactory samples.
On pesticides, tests were conducted for four main types covering more than 100 pesticides (such as DDT, methamidophos and hexachlorocyclohexane). Two Indian lettuce samples were found to contain trace amounts of methamidophos (2ppm and 7ppm respectively).
For food additives, tests included the commonly-used preservatives, sulphur dioxide, benzoic acid and sorbic acid. A preserved garlic bulb sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide (1,800ppm), and a preserved rakkyo sample with benzoic acid (690ppm), both exceeding the permitted levels.
For heavy metals, tests included cadmium, arsenic, and lead. A Tientsin cabbage sample and a Chinese wolfberry sample were found to contain cadmium (0.16ppm and 0.17ppm respectively), exceeding the permitted levels.
For colouring matters, all the sample results were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
The CFS collected some 1,000 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. There were two unsatisfactory results.
A fresh pork sample was found to contain clenbuterol (0.015ppm) during tests on veterinary drug residues.
On food additives, all the results for tests on preservatives were satisfactory. For colouring matters, a BBQ pork sample was found to contain non-permitted Orange II.
Aquatic product
About 600 samples (including freshwater fish, seawater fish and shellfish) were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and toxins. Apart from 11 unsatisfactory samples (including salt fish and scallops) announced earlier, there were three other unsatisfactory results.
Regarding tests on toxins, a honeycomb grouper sample was found to contain ciguatoxin (250 units), a salted fish sample with histamine (1,000ppm), and a scallop (sin pui) sample with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin (476 micrograms per 100 grams).
Concerning tests on heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic and cadmium, all the results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
The CFS took some 2,800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. As far as pathogens were concerned, all the sample results were satisfactory.
For tests on hygiene indicators (total bacterial count and coliform organisms), apart from four unsatisfactory samples (soft ice-cream) announced earlier, a pasteurised milk sample was found to have coliform organisms (present in 0.1ml) exceeding the permitted level.
Cereals, grains and products
About 600 samples were analysed for micro-organisms and chemicals. A frozen bread sample was found to contain preservative propionic acid (7,200ppm) exceeding the permitted level.
Other food commodities
Some 1,600 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested. Apart from two unsatisfactory samples (rice dumplings) announced earlier, there were five other unsatisfactory results. These include one brown sugar sample and a Chinese wolfberry fruit sample containing preservative sulphur dioxide (190ppm and 8,900ppm respectively) and a mushroom sauce sample with preservative benzoic acid (500ppm). All the preservatives detected had exceeded the permitted levels. One fried rice sample was found to have pathogen Bacillus cereus (180 million per gram), and a cooked chicken claw sample was detected with pathogen Salmonella.
Summing up
"Concerning the current round of food sample results announced, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose immediate health risks," Dr Chan said.
"For natural toxins, both PSP toxin and ciguatoxin may generate gastrointestinal upset, such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea, as well as neurological symptoms like mouth and limb numbness.
"The samples detected with Salmonella and Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
"We observe that a number of unsatisfactory samples were related to the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives," she said.
She urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, and follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements.
She also reminded the food trade to source shellfish and coral fish from reliable suppliers, and keep records to facilitate tracing if necessary.
Dr Chan advised people to consume only small amount of shellfish and coral fish at any one meal. They should avoid eating the head, viscera, skin and roe of coral reef fish. They should also remove the viscera and gonads of shellfish before cooking and avoid consuming the cooking liquid.
She also advised people to thoroughly wash vegetables before cooking as some pesticides, such as methamidophos, were water soluble.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up actions, including tracing the source of food in question, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of those food items, taking follow-up samples and issuing warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution action will also be taken," she said.
Ends/Thursday, August 9, 2007
