Latest food safety report released
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (October 24) released its Fourth Food Safety Report for 2008, which included food surveillance results for July and August.
Announcing the results at a press conference, the Acting Assistant Director (Food Surveillance and Control) of the CFS, Dr Henry Ng Chi-cheung, said about 11,500 food samples were tested. Among them, about 3,200 samples were taken for microbiological tests and about 7,900 for chemical tests.
"The overall satisfactory rate is 99.7%, with 34 samples being found unsatisfactory," he said.
While microbiological tests cover pathogenic bacteria and viruses, chemical tests are to detect sweeteners, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and pesticides.
Samples tested included vegetables, fruits and their products; meat, poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables, fruits and products
About 4,400 samples of vegetables, fruit and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. There were four unsatisfactory samples.
On pesticides, tests were conducted for four main types covering more than 100 pesticides (such as DDT, methamidophos and hexachlorocyclohexane). A sample of water spinach was found to contain a trace amount of methamidophos (3.4ppm).
For metallic contamination, tests included cadmium, arsenic, and lead. An eggplant sample and a Romaine hearts sample were found to contain cadmium, at a level of 0.17ppm and 0.14ppm respectively, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
On food additives, a sample of preserved rakkyo was found to contain sulphur dioxide at a level of 580ppm. The legal limit is 100ppm.
All samples tested for colouring matters and micro-organisms had satisfactory results.
Meat, poultry and products
The CFS collected about 1,800 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from 17 unsatisfactory samples (including meat and fried pig intestine) announced previously, there were two unsatisfactory samples.
Regarding tests for veterinary drug residues, a sample of chilled pork was found to contain clenbuterol (0.0016ppm) and salbutamol (0.002ppm), which are not permitted.
On food additives, apart from the 16 meat samples announced previously, a beef ball sample was found to contain benzoic acid at a level of 340ppm. The preservative is not permitted to be used in this food.
For tests on colouring matters, apart from a sample of fried pig intestine announced previously, all the results were satisfactory.
All samples tested for pathogens had satisfactory results.
Aquatic products
About 1,100 samples (including freshwater fish, seawater fish and shellfish) were tested for micro-organisms, chemicals and toxins. Apart from two curry squid samples announced previously, there were six unsatisfactory samples.
On veterinary drug residues, four samples of chilled prawn were found to contain metabolite of nitrofuran at levels ranging from 0.023ppm to 0.028ppm.
For tests on metallic contamination, an oyster sample was found to contain cadmium at a level of 3.4ppm, exceeding the legal limit (2ppm).
Results of tests on colouring matters found that, apart from two curry squid samples announced previously, a sample of "big eye" fish was found to contain Ponceau 4R, which is not permitted to be used in fresh fish.
For pathogens, preservatives and toxins, all the test results were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
The CFS took some 1,700 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. Apart from a sample of soft ice-cream announced previously, all the other sample results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
About 200 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals and found satisfactory.
Other food commodities
About 2,400 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were tested and all the results of tests on chemicals were satisfactory.
For microbiological tests, a sample of vegetarian "poon choi" was found to contain Bacillus cereus at a level of 100,000 per gramme. A sample of instant noodle with chicken was found to contain Staphylococcus aureus at a level of 49,000 per gramme.
Summing up
"Of the current round of food sample results, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose immediate health risks," Dr Ng said.
"Regarding the food samples detected with pathogens, the breaches could be indications of unsatisfactory hygiene conditions during food processing and production."
He reminded traders that "poon choi" usually comprises a variety of food items involving complicated processing and demands meticulous attention in preparing. All foods should be thoroughly cooked and served as soon as possible. The food trade should avoid preparing the food too early and store "poon choi" above 60 degrees Celsius, or at or below 4 degrees Celsius. If necessary, "poon choi" should be reheated thoroughly with the centre temperature reaching 75 degrees Celsius or above before consumption.
Dr Ng said the rest of the unsatisfactory samples were mainly related to the use of excessive or non-permitted food additives or the detection of excessive veterinary drug residues.
He urged the food trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements.
"Regarding the unsatisfactory samples, the CFS has taken follow-up action, including tracing the source of food in question, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of those food items, taking further samples and issuing warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will also be taken," he said.
Ends/Friday, October 24, 2008
