Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ6: Food additives "One Drop of Incense"
Following is a question by the Hon Tommy Cheung and a reply by the Secretary for
Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 23):
Question:
Incidents of "fake flavouring" on the Mainland have repeatedly been heard in
recent years. The relevant reports have pointed out that a number of food
additives which are extensively used on the market are chemically synthesised
products with unknown composition, and some of them even contain chemicals
banned by the state. Recently, some media in Hong Kong have also reported that a
food additive commonly known as "One Drop of Incense" (ODI) of unknown
composition, which has aroused concern in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, has
already made its way into the restaurants of Hong Kong, and is used as the
flavouring agent of soup products. In this connection, will the Government
inform this Council:
(a) whether it has conducted any test on the chemical composition of ODI since
the media reported on the incident of ODI last year; if it has, of the results
and whether ODI contains any harmful substance; if it has not conducted any
test, the reasons for that;
(b) how the authorities prevent the inflow of problematic food additives into
the market of Hong Kong; whether they have followed up the matter with the
authorities concerned in other places and are fully aware of the list of food
additives which contain harmful substances, as well as their distribution
channels and whether some of them are available in Hong Kong, etc.; if so, of
the details; if not, the reasons for that and whether the authorities will
follow up this matter with the authorities of the places concerned as soon as
possible; and
(c) when restaurants are doubtful about the safety of the food additives
purchased by them, how the authorities assist in following up as well as
carrying out the tests required; whether the authorities have provided timely
information to members of the industry, so as to prevent them from purchasing
problematic food additives; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
how they will enhance their efforts in releasing such information in future?
Reply:
President,
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) closely monitors about 40 food safety related
websites of the Mainland and overseas government authorities, as well as
international organisations on a daily basis in order to keep abreast of the
latest food incidents happening in other places of the world. It also pays close
attention to related media reports and takes appropriate follow up action.
Following the media reports on the use of "One Drop of Incense" ( �w��) in the
Mainland and in view of the public concern so generated, CFS has been keeping in
view and following up the issue. So far, CFS has not found "One Drop of Incense"
available for sale locally, nor any information on the exact composition of the
product.
Restaurants in Hong Kong should ensure that food ingredients used are fit for
human consumption. Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services
Ordinance (Cap. 132) provides that all food intended for human consumption for
sale in Hong Kong, whether imported or locally produced, must be fit for human
consumption. In addition, the food must also comply with regulations concerning
food safety and food standards made under the above Ordinance, including the
Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap. 132H), the Sweeteners in Food
Regulations (Cap. 132U) and the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD).
These Regulations have listed the permitted food additives and/or the permitted
levels of the specified food additives. Any person who contravenes the above
legislation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six
months. Moreover, if any food is suspected to be hazardous to health, CFS will
take vigorous follow-up action, including research and testing, to ensure food
safety. Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations
(Cap. 132W) under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance require
that prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong shall include in the label of
ingredients the specific names or identification numbers of food additives used,
and their functional classes.
My reply to the different parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Upon our enquiry, the concerned Mainland authority replied that "One Drop of
Incense" was a hotpot flavouring agent. Generally speaking, hotpot flavouring
agents may contain vegetable oils and flavouring substances. It was also
reported in the media that the major component of "One Drop of Incense" was
ethyl maltol, which could be used as a flavouring and a flavour enhancer. In the
studies on experimental animals, no adverse effects on these animals were
noticed after long-term oral administration of ethyl maltol at high dose level
(200mg/kg bw). The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has
evaluated the safety of ethyl maltol and opined that the normal use of ethyl
maltol in food within good manufacturing practice should not pose any health
risks. JECFA also established an Acceptable Daily Intake of 0-2 mg/kg bw for
ethyl maltol. CFS has conducted risk assessment based on the media report that
two samples of food taken from restaurant(s) were found to contain ethyl maltol
at 7.3mg/kg and 9.2 mg/kg respectively, and found that consumption of those two
food products would not cause any adverse health effects to the public.
In response to the earlier media reports on the use of a chemical additive "One
Drop of Incense" as a flavouring in soup products in local restaurants, CFS
acted promptly and took a total of 10 samples (including hotpot soup bases and
condensed soup) from the local market this November for chemical testing of
ethyl maltol and metallic contamination, etc. All test results were
satisfactory.
In view of the public concern over the food safety of hotpot soup products, CFS
also conducted a Survey on Popular Food Items with "hotpot soup bases" as the
theme earlier this year. In the said survey, 67 hotpot soup base samples were
collected from the local market for chemical tests, covering tests of metallic
contamination, colouring matters, preservatives, antioxidants, etc in order to
assess the food safety of hotpot soup bases. Apart from one sample which was
found unsatisfactory in respect of colouring matters, the remaining 66 samples
were all found satisfactory. CFS had taken follow-up actions on the
unsatisfactory sample, including taking further samples for testing, and the
result was satisfactory.
(b) CFS has taken the initiative to make enquiries on "One Drop of Incense" with
the Mainland authority concerned, which replied that the product was only
available for sale in the Mainland and had not been exported to Hong Kong.
Through CFS's risk-based routine food surveillance programme, food samples are
taken at import, wholesale and retail levels for chemical and microbiological
testing, to ensure that the food meets the requirements of legislation and is
fit for human consumption. Up till now, CFS has not found "One Drop of Incense"
available for sale locally.
(c) Following the media reports on "One Drop of Incense", CFS has explained, in
the February 2011 edition of the newsletter "Food Safety Focus", the incident to
the public and the trade. A flavouring agent is a kind of food additive and CFS
will provide the trade with relevant information from time to time. Educational
materials such as leaflets and booklets are distributed by CFS through publicity
channels including CFS website, periodicals, seminars and exhibitions to brief
the public and the trade on various food additives and the relevant legislation.
In recent years, the CFS has also strengthened its publicity efforts by making
use of its monthly e-publication "Food Safety Focus", which serves as a platform
to introduce a series of articles covering holistically the safety concern of
food additives like preservatives, colouring matters, sweeteners, etc. Such
information is also available for the public and the trade on the CFS website.
Food safety is regulated by the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance
and its subsidiary legislation. Members of the trade have the responsibility to
ensure that all food products for sale in Hong Kong are fit for human
consumption, and they should purchase food ingredients from reliable food
importers or distributors and keep abreast of local regulatory requirements on
the use and labelling of food additives. In case of doubt, they should consider
seeking proof of food testing from importers or distributors or arrange testing
by accredited laboratories to ensure that the food in question is fit for human
consumption.
Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:32
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