Excessive pesticide residues found in three vegetable samples

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 14) that one bitter gourd sample, one Indian lettuce sample and one Chinese lettuce sample were found to have pesticide residues at levels exceeding the legal limits. The CFS is following up on the cases.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the three samples at the import level for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the bitter gourd sample contained cypermethrin at a level of 0.092 parts per million (ppm), i.e. about 1.32 times the maximum residue limit (0.07 ppm). The Indian lettuce and Chinese lettuce samples contained cyhalothrin at levels of 0.27 ppm and 0.49 ppm, i.e. 1.35 times and 2.45 times respectively the maximum residue limit (0.2 ppm).

"Based on the levels of pesticide residues detected in the samples, adverse health effects will not be caused with usual consumption."

Generally speaking, to reduce pesticide residues in vegetables, members of the public can rinse vegetables several times under running water, then soak them in water for one hour, or blanch them in boiling water for one minute and discard the water. To further reduce the intake of pesticide residues, the outer leaves or peel of the vegetables can also be removed as appropriate.

Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132CM) concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

Since the regulation came into effect on August 1, 2014, the CFS has taken over 84 300 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing of pesticide residues, and a total of 163 vegetable and fruit samples (including the unsatisfactory samples announced today) have been detected as having excessive pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.2 per cent.

The CFS will follow up on the unsatisfactory results, including tracing the sources and distribution of the food in question and taking samples for testing so as to safeguard public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Friday, October 14, 2016