Results of tests on eggs and fish

The Acting Controller for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, announced today (November 25) the latest test results for egg and freshwater fish samples.

Dr Ho said among the results for 20 egg samples (including hen eggs and duck eggs) available today, a duck egg sample was found to contain Sudan dyes.

"The sample was taken from a supermarket in Tai Wai. The eggs in question were labelled as 'red-yolk duck egg'.

"The test results for egg samples available so far indicated that the affected products were mainly Hunan hen eggs and duck eggs labelled as 'red-yolk duck egg'. Our follow-up actions would be taken along this direction," Dr Ho said.

Turning to freshwater fish samples, Dr Ho said results available today showed that a trace amount of malachite green was present in one of the 10 samples of various freshwater fish. Results for tests on other drug residues are pending.

"The sample tested positive for malachite green was taken from the Western Wholesale Food Market. The fish in question were believed to be imported from a registered fish farm in Shunde, Guangdong for supplying fish to Hong Kong. The CFS has contacted the Mainland authorities for follow-up actions.

"We have also notified the Mainland authorities about test results released yesterday on the detection of malachite green in freshwater grouper samples. We understand that the Guangdong authorities had immediately stepped up regulation on export of freshwater fish," he said.

Ends/Saturday, November 25, 2006