Latest melamine test results (with table)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (December 2) released the latest batch of results of melamine tests.

The results showed that 61 of the 62 samples tested were satisfactory. These included milk, frozen confections, eggs, biscuits and cakes.

An egg sample was found to be unsatisfactory with the level of melamine detected at 4.7ppm. Details are as follows:

Producer: 德惠市佳原農副產品經銷有限公司
Address: 吉林省德惠市德農高速引綫路口
Egg farm: 德惠市大地農牧業有限責任公司
Batch number: JY200811-2
Local importer: 強記(address: E8, 2/F, Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market)

Under the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2008, the legal limit for melamine in the concerned product is 2.5ppm.

"The large-sized egg sample was taken at Man Kam To. The CFS has asked the importer to stop selling the affected products. According to the importer, the concerned products have only been distributed to some bakeries but not to any other retail outlets. The Centre is now following up with the concerned bakeries," a CFS spokesman said.

"We have informed the food trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling or using the concerned product. We have also informed the Mainland authorities for follow up."

The safety reference value (i.e. tolerable daily intake - TDI) for melamine is 0.63mg per kg of body weight per day. For children under the age of three years, who are more sensitive to melamine, the TDI for melamine is 0.32mg per kg of body weight per day. Transient excursion above the TDI of melamine would have no health consequences provided that the average intake over a long period has not exceeded the TDI.

On the sample of large-sized egg which was detected with a melamine level of 4.7ppm, the spokesman said a child weighing 10kg (about three years old) would have to eat 0.68kg (about 13 eggs) of the product a day to reach the TDI. An adult with average body weight of 60kg would need to consume 8.04kg (about 152 eggs) of the product a day before reaching the TDI.

The Centre has so far tested 307 egg samples and four were found unsatisfactory.

Information on the test results can be found on the CFS's website, www.cfs.gov.hk. People can also call the CFS's enquiry number 2381 6096 which operates from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Ends/Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Unsatisfactory results of testing of Melamine

Satisfactory results of testing of Melamine