Excessive pesticide residues found in two vegetable samples by CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 28) found that the levels of pesticide residues of two vegetable samples exceeded the legal limits. Prosecution will be taken against the vendors concerned.

A spokesman of the CFS said, "Through its regular food surveillance programme, the CFS collected the white string pods samples from two different retailers in Yau Ma Tei and Sha Tin. Test results showed that a sample was found to contain Acephate, Carbofuran and Methamidophos at levels of 4.3 parts per million (ppm), 0.36 ppm and 0.34 ppm respectively. Another sample was found to contain Carbofuran at a level of 0.17 ppm.

According to the preliminary information provided by the vendors concerned, the vegetables concerned were from the Mainland. Yet, the exact source of origin has yet to be confirmed. The CFS is liaising with the Mainland authority to follow up on the incident."

According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) (the Regulation), the maximum residue limits for the three pesticide residues, namely Acephate, Methamidophos and Carbofuran, for string beans are 1ppm, 0.05ppm and 0.1ppm respectively.

"Based on the levels of pesticide residues detected, they will not pose adverse health effects to consumers upon normal consumption," the spokesman said.

The CFS will undertake prosecution action and will continue to monitor the situation. Follow-up samples will be taken from the vendors concerned for testing if the same product is found available for sale.

Since the Regulation has come into effect on August 1, the CFS has taken over 960 samples, comprising about 50 different kinds of vegetables and fruits at import, wholesale and retail levels for testing of pesticide residues. Apart from the above two unsatisfactory samples, the CFS, so far, has not found any other samples that failed the tests.

Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Regulation concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months.

The CFS will continue to safeguard food safety and public health by taking different samples of vegetables, especially white string pods, for testing through its regular Food Surveillance Programme.

To minimise the health risk posed by consuming vegetables contaminated by pesticide residues, the public may rinse vegetables for several times under running water before soaking them in water for one hour, or blanch the vegetables in boiling water for one minute and discard the water, or doing both to further minimise the risk.

Ends/Thursday, August 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:28