Excessive cadmium found in celery and Chinese cabbage samples

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 23) announced that a celery sample and two Chinese cabbage samples were detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, exceeding the legal limits. The CFS is following up on the incidents.

"The CFS collected the abovementioned celery sample and Chinese cabbage samples from a stall at the Western Wholesale Food Market and at the import level respectively for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the celery sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.18 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm, while both the Chinese cabbage samples contained cadmium at levels of 0.1 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.05 ppm," a CFS spokesman said.

"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and is tracing the sources of the affected products," the spokesman added.

According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limits is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

"Based on the levels of cadmium detected in the samples, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman said.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Monday, December 23, 2019