Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ16: Monitor food products containing Sudan I and IV

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (April 6):


Question:


It has been reported that more than 400 types of food products sold in the United Kingdom have to be recalled recently after being found to contain the carcinogenic dye Sudan I. Food products containing Sudan I are also available in the Mainland market. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:


(a) whether the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has identified from the tests conducted under the food surveillance programme any food products sold in Hong Kong containing Sudan I in the past year; if so, of the details;


(b) given that food products which are found to contain Sudan I are mostly spicy products (such as chili sauce), whether FEHD has carried out any tests particularly on spicy food products in the past year; if so, of the test results; if not, the reasons for that; and


(c) as food products containing Sudan I are found in both the United Kingdom and the Mainland, whether FEHD has approached the manufacturers and dealers concerned in the past year to ascertain if such food products are sold in Hong Kong; if such products are sold in Hong Kong, whether FEHD has made arrangements with the manufacturers and dealers concerned for recalling the food products; if arrangements have been made, of the details; if arrangements have not been made, the reasons for that?


Reply :


Madam President,


(a) Both Sudan I and Sudan IV are non-permitted colouring matters in food under the existing food law in Hong Kong. During 2004, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) had tested about 2,200 food samples for colouring matters and none of them were found to contain Sudan I or Sudan IV.


(b) In response to the report of food items being contaminated with Sudan I in the United Kingdom, FEHD had immediately taken follow up actions, including checking the availability of the concerned products in local market, and had taken more than 60 food samples for testing. According to the test results of 42 food samples available so far, five food samples were found to contain Sudan dyes with details as follows ¡V


(i) Two samples of chilli powder collected from a grocery store were tested to contain Sudan I and Sudan IV. The item was sold in plastic bags without brands. The remaining stock had been surrendered for disposal;


(ii) Two samples of chilli powder collected from two different Indian restaurants were tested to contain Sudan I. Investigation revealed that the products were imported directly by the owners of these restaurants from India and Pakistan for food preparation in the restaurants. The remaining stock had been surrendered for disposal; and


(iii) One sample of locally manufactured chilli oil taken from a supermarket was tested to contain Sudan IV. FEHD had requested the manufacturer and supermarket to recall the concerned product.


(c) FEHD has checked with the major vendors to see if those products found to contain Sudan dyes in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Mainland were offered for sale in Hong Kong. In addition, FEHD had also checked with the relevant food authorities to see whether those products had been imported to Hong Kong. According to the responses received by FEHD, the vendors had identified 5 different food items that were on the list of affected food items and had removed these items from the shelves. FEHD had also conducted checks at the local markets and had not found any of the concerned products.




Ends/Wednesday, April 6, 2005

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