Excessive cadmium found in European lettuce sample

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 6) announced that a European lettuce sample was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident.

     "The CFS collected the European lettuce sample at import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.16 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm," a CFS spokesman said.

     "The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and is tracing the source of the affected product," 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 level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman said.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.