CFS announces food safety report for August
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 15 500 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for 17 unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 2 300 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 5 200 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 8 000 (including about 7 400 taken from food imported from Japan) were collected to test radiation levels.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygienic indicators, while the chemical tests aimed at detecting pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others.
The samples comprised about 4 300 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 600 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 800 samples of aquatic and related products; 1 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 1 000 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 5 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The 17 unsatisfactory samples comprised five preserved vegetable samples detected with preservatives, sulphur dioxide, exceeding the legal limit; three vegetable samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limit; three fresh beef samples found to contain sulphur dioxide; two bamboo fungus samples detected with sulphur dioxide exceeding the legal limit; two soft ice-cream samples detected with coliform counts exceeding the legal limit; a sample of bottled tartare sauce found to contain a plasticiser, diisodecyl phthalate; and a sample of black rice detected with excessive cadmium.
The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
Since the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) came into effect on August 1, 2014, as of August 31 this year, the CFS had taken over 79 000 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 per cent.
The spokesman added that excessive pesticide residues in food may arise from the trade not observing Good Agricultural Practice, e.g. using excessive pesticides and/or not allowing sufficient time for pesticides to decompose before harvesting. The maximum residue limit (MRL) of pesticide residues in food is not a safety indicator. It is the maximum concentration of pesticide residues to be permitted in a food commodity under Good Agricultural Practice when applying pesticides. In this connection, consumption of food with pesticide residues higher than the MRL will not necessarily lead to any adverse health effects.
Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and meat products, but under the Preservatives in Food Regulation, it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Nonetheless, individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. This preservative is of low toxicity. As it is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.
Ends/Friday, September 30, 2016