51 food samples in HK fail safety tests

HONG KONG, March 3 (Chinese media) -- The Center for Food Safety of Hong Kong

announced Monday that it tested 4,600 food samples in January and found 51 to be

unsatisfactory.

Apart from the four unsatisfactory samples of Lunar New Year food earlier,

a pickled plum and a red date sample were found to contain preservative sulphur

dioxide exceeding the legal limit, the center said in a statement.

Apart from the unsatisfactory samples of 20 fresh beef and one preserved

Chinese sausage earlier, 15 fresh beef samples were found to contain sulphur

dioxide. Two samples of smoked pork sausage and one sample of pork loin ham were

found to contain the preservative sorbic acid.

A sample of chilled orange roughy fillet was found to contain mercury

exceeding the legal limit. A sample of slipper lobster had cadmium exceeding the

legal limit.

The center said most of the exceedances or breaches are not serious and

will not pose immediate health risks. It has traced the sources of the food in

question, stopped their sale and issued warning letters.

From this year, food-safety reports will be issued monthly instead of

bimonthly so the public can obtain the latest food- safety information in a

timely manner, said the center.