​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 2 800 food samples tested were satisfactory except for three samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was about 99.9 per cent.
A CFS spokesman said about 400 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 2 400 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.
The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.
The samples comprised about 1 600 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 200 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 200 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 300 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 300 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 200 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
The three unsatisfactory samples comprised a sample of prepackaged rice product detected with gluten without being declared on the product's food label, a kudzu sample detected with excessive lead, and a prepackaged black sesame noodle sample detected with an antioxidant level exceeding the legal limit.
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.
The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food for sale is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.
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