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CFS Reports Satisfactory Results for Lunar New Year Food Safety Tests, Warns About Three Unsatisfactory Samples.

HK

CFS Reports Satisfactory Results for Lunar New Year Food Safety Tests, Warns About Three Unsatisfactory Samples.
HK

HK

CFS Reports Satisfactory Results for Lunar New Year Food Safety Tests, Warns About Three Unsatisfactory Samples.

2025-01-15 16:00 Last Updated At:16:08

Centre for Food Safety announces test results of Lunar New Year food (first phase)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 15) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year (LNY) food (first phase). The test results of around 760 samples collected were satisfactory except for three samples that were announced earlier.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The LNY is coming soon and the CFS is conducting this seasonal food surveillance project in two phases. During the first phase of the project, different types of LNY food including steamed puddings (e.g. turnip puddings and festive cakes), fried dumplings (e.g. sesame balls and crispy triangles), candies, glutinous rice balls, nuts, melon seeds, vegetarian dishes and dried aquatic products were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) for chemical and microbiological tests as well as nutrition content analysis."

Chemical tests targeted preservatives, metallic contaminants, sweeteners and others. Microbiological tests covered different food poisoning pathogens. For nutrition content analysis, the contents of total fat, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to see if the test results were consistent with the declared values on the nutrition labels.

The three unsatisfactory food samples comprised a prepackaged candied winter melon sample anda dried soybean curd sampledetected with preservatives exceeding the legal limit, and a prepackaged rice cake sample not in compliance with the nutrition labelling regulations. The CFS has taken follow-up action on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test result, instructing them to stop selling the affected food item and tracing the source of the food items in question.

The spokesman urged the food trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations in the preparation of food, follow Good Manufacturing Practice and use permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers, and conduct quality checks of incoming materials and end products to ensure that ingredients used are within legal standards. In addition, the food trade should maintain proper records in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed.

The spokesman also advised consumers to buy LNY food from reliable retailers with good hygiene conditions; make sure the packaging of prepackaged cakes and snacks is intact and the products have not expired; refer to the nutrition labels on the sugar, salt (sodium) and fat content and more for making healthy choices; and pay attention to the hygiene conditions of food containers and the personal hygiene of staff when buying loose-packed foods (e.g. candied lotus seeds, nuts and melon seeds).

"Consumers should choose food products with natural colours. Bright white pistachios may have been bleached and melon seeds with an unnatural gloss may have had mineral oil added. Consumption of these food products can cause gastrointestinal discomfort," the spokesman said.

"Festive cakes that are not for immediate consumption should be kept refrigerated or stored according to the instructions on the package, and should be eaten before they expire. Reheat hot-served festive cakes thoroughly before consumption, consume them as soon as possible, and avoid keeping them at room temperature for a long time. Foods like nuts and melon seeds should not be kept for a long time. Those with mould or an abnormal smell or taste should not be eaten," he added.

The spokesman reminded the public to maintain a balanced diet and avoid foods that are high in energy, sugar, salt or fat during the LNY.

The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on LNY food, and the second-phase results will be released in a timely manner to ensure food safety.

Please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk/seasonalfood) for more food safety information about seasonal food.

Centre for Food Safety announces test results of Lunar New Year food (first phase)  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Centre for Food Safety announces test results of Lunar New Year food (first phase) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Three Arrested in Yuen Long Murder Case; Total Arrests Now at Nine

2025-01-25 23:19 Last Updated At:23:28

Three more arrested in connection with murder and wounding case in Yuen Long arrested

In connection with a murder and wounding case happened in Yuen Long on January 22, Police further arrested two 22-year-old men for murder and wounding, and a 20-year-old woman for conspiracy to wounding in Tin Shui Wai, Tsing Yi and Yuen Long respectively yesterday (January 24).

In the murder and wounding case, a 24-year-old man died and a 28-year-old man was injured.

Together with the arrests made earlier, Police arrested a total of eight men and one woman, aged 19 to 27. Among them, Police today (January 25) laid holding charges against the 20-year-old man and the 22-year-old man each with one count of murder and one count of wounding. The 20-year-old man was also laid holding charges with one count of driving without a valid license and one count of driving without third party insurance. The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates' Courts in the morning of January 27.

Besides, the four male arrestees, aged 22 to 26, were released on bail and are required to report back to Police in late February. The 20-year-old female arrestee is being detained for further enquiries.

For the two men who had been charged earlier, the case was mentioned at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts this morning.

Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North is under way. Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3356.

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