CFS announces food safety report for June
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 29) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 10 100 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for 15 unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 800 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, some 3 700 samples were taken for chemical tests and the remaining 5 600 (including about 5 300 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 3 300 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; 500 samples of meat and poultry and their products; 1 400 samples of aquatic and related products; 500 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; 600 samples of cereals, grains and their products; and 3 800 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The 15 unsatisfactory samples comprised five edible mushroom samples detected with cadmium at levels exceeding the legal limit, five eel samples found with trace amounts of malachite green, three vegetable samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limit, one black cod steak sample detected with excessive mercury, and one vegetarian spiced duck sample found with Bacillus cereus.
The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory samples including informing the trade concerned of the test results, instructing the vendors concerned 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 June 30 this year, the CFS had taken over 70 900 food samples at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing for pesticide residues. The overall unsatisfactory rate is less than 0.3 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.
Furthermore, in view of the recent detection of trace amounts of malachite green in several eel samples, the CFS has been closely following up on the matter and taken appropriate follow-up actions. Enhancement of surveillance work on eels has been already undertaken.
Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infection in fish. Major agricultural economies such as the Mainland, the European Union, Canada and the United States prohibit the use of the chemical in food fish. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
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, July 29, 2016