Results of tests on eggs and fish

The Consultant (Community Medicine) (Risk Assessment and Communication) of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), Dr Ho Yuk-yin, announced today (November 28) the latest test results for egg and freshwater fish samples.

Dr Ho said the results for 16 egg samples (including hen and duck eggs) available today showed that none was found to contain Sudan dyes.

Turning to the test results for 13 samples of different kinds of freshwater fish available today, Dr Ho said results on malachite green were all negative.

Dr Ho said among the 187 egg samples (including hen eggs, duck eggs, thousand-year eggs and quail eggs) collected for testing by the CFS during the past two weeks (including those announced today), only two duck egg and five hen egg samples were found to contain Sudan dyes.

"The affected eggs were mainly Hunan hen eggs, and eggs labelled as ‘red-yolk duck egg' or ‘red-yolk hen egg'.

"The Mainland authorities have already suspended the export of Hunan hen eggs to Hong Kong. The CFS has also earlier advised the local trade to stop selling eggs labelled as ‘red-yolk duck egg' or ‘red-yolk hen egg'," Dr Ho said.

He said recent test results showed that no more egg sample was found to contain Sudan dyes.

Turning to the test results for freshwater fish samples in the past few days (including those announced today), Dr Ho said 15 out of 74 samples of different kinds of freshwater fish taken for chemical tests were found to contain low level of malachite green/nitrofurans.

"Under the current arrangement, freshwater fish exported from the Mainland to Hong Kong must come from registered fish farms and are accompanied with health certificates.

"This arrangement has proved to be effective in tracing the source of freshwater fish and informing the Mainland authorities for immediate follow-up actions.

"We would continue to monitor closely the situation concerning eggs and freshwater fish and maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities. Appropriate action will be taken where necessary for protecting public health," Dr Ho said.

Ends/Tuesday, November 28, 2006