Food safety report for March released
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (April 30) released its Food Safety Report for March, which covered food surveillance results for the month.
About 4,500 food samples were tested in March. Among them, about 3,300 were taken for chemical tests and about 1,200 for microbiological and other tests. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.7%, with 13 samples found unsatisfactory.
While microbiological tests cover pathogens and viruses, chemical tests are conducted to detect sweeteners, preservatives, metallic contamination, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues, pesticides and melamine.
Samples tested included vegetables, fruit and their products; meat, poultry and their products; aquatic products; milk, milk products and frozen confections; and cereals, grains and their products.
Vegetables, fruits and products
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About 2,000 samples of vegetables, fruit and their products were taken for microbiological and chemical tests. Except the two already announced unsatisfactory samples of preserved vegetables, all the sample results were satisfactory.
Meat, poultry and products
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The CFS collected about 700 samples of meat, poultry and their products for microbiological and chemical tests. Apart from the previously announced unsatisfactory sample of cattle offal, there were five unsatisfactory samples.
On veterinary drug residues, a sample of frozen suckling pig was found to contain sulfonamides at a level of 0.34ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm.
Four fresh beef samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide, which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat, at levels between 20ppm and 2,300ppm.
All other samples tested for pathogens and colouring matters were satisfactory.
Aquatic products
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About 500 samples, including fish, shellfish and their products, were analysed for micro-organisms, chemicals and biotoxins. Apart from an unsatisfactory sample of baby oyster meat, which was announced earlier, there were two unsatisfactory samples.
A sample of dried conch slice was found to contain sulphur dioxide at a level of 7,300ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 30ppm for that type of food.
A sample of yellow croaker was found to contain colouring matter Tartrazine, which is not permitted to be used in fresh fish.
All the test results for pathogens were satisfactory.
Milk, milk products and frozen confections
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The CFS took about 400 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections for microbiological and chemical analyses. All the test results were satisfactory.
Cereals, grains and products
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About 100 samples were tested for micro-organisms and chemicals. A sample of Japanese style ramen was found to contain the preservative benzoic acid at a level of 2,100ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 1,000ppm for that type of food.
Other food commodities
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About 800 samples including snacks, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, condiments and sauces were also tested. A sample of steamed rice cup cake was found to contain the preservative sorbic acid at a level of 2,000ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 1,000ppm for that type of food.
Conclusion
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"Of the test results announced today, most of the exceedances or breaches were not serious and would not pose adverse health risks upon normal consumption," a CFS spokesman said.
The breaches were mainly about excessive or illegal use of food preservatives or colouring matters. The spokesman urged the trade to use only permitted food additives, follow good manufacturing practice and comply with legal requirements.
"The public should patronise reliable shops and maintain a balanced diet to reduce food risks.
"The CFS has taken follow-up actions in respect of the unsatisfactory samples. These include tracing the source of the food items, asking concerned vendors to stop selling and to dispose of them, taking further samples and issuing warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will also be taken," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2009
