Centre for Food Safety announces test results of Lunar New Year food (second phase)
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 9) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year (LNY) food (second phase). The test results on 175 samples collected were all satisfactory.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS has conducted this seasonal food surveillance project in two phases, and the first-phase test results were announced last month. With the LNY around the corner, the CFS has completed the second phase of the surveillance project on LNY food. Steamed puddings (e.g. turnip puddings and festive cakes), fried dumplings (e.g. sesame balls and crispy triangles), candies, glutinous rice balls, nuts, pistachio nuts, melon seeds, vegetarian dishes and dried aquatic products were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) for chemical analysis. Chemical tests targeted preservatives, colouring matters, antioxidants, veterinary drug residue, etc."
The spokesman urged the food trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations in the preparation of food and production of labels. They should 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, sodium (salt), saturated fat and trans fat content and more for making informed choices; and pay attention to the hygiene conditions of food containers and the personal hygiene of staff when buying loose-packed food (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 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, as far as practicable, avoid excessive consumption of foods high in energy, sugar, salt or fat, even during the LNY.
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 (second phase) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) hosted a business forum and spring reception on March 12 (Philadelphia time) in Philadelphia, one of the most significant life science clusters in the United States, to promote Hong Kong's expanding role as a global hub for health and life sciences innovation and to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration. Over 130 business leaders, investors, and innovators from across Greater Philadelphia gathered to learn more about Hong Kong's role as an international life and health science hub.
As part of the Economic and Trade Express initiative, the business forum was co-organised by the New York ETO, Invest Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), strengthening efforts in trade and investment promotion, and reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder".
In her welcome remarks, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted Hong Kong's remarkable progress in life sciences and healthcare, emphasising the latest measures to propel Hong Kong's life sciences and health technology ecosystem through a multipronged approach.
She elaborated on Hong Kong's integrated development plan, including reforming the evaluation regime for drugs and medical devices, promoting the use of real-world data to facilitate clinical research, setting up dedicated institutes and academies for research and clinical trials at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in the Northern Metropolis, as well as dedicated efforts in attracting strategic enterprises, with a view to further strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading health and innovation node.
Ms Ho added that Hong Kong's well-established financial ecosystem continues to play a pivotal role in supporting this growth. "Hong Kong ranks as the world's second-largest biotech fundraising hub, supporting a diverse range of innovative companies," she said.
The business forum featured two keynote presentations connecting life sciences and health innovation between Philadelphia and Hong Kong. In her keynote presentation, the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the Invest Hong Kong in New York, Ms Yi Xie, highlighted Hong Kong as a launchpad for life sciences, showcasing its well- developed research and development infrastructure, robust intellectual property protection, and strategic gateway to the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Asia-Pacific markets. Meanwhile, the Director (New York & Midwest) of the HKTDC, Mr Curtis Louie, shared the range of support the HKTDC provides to Philadelphia companies, including matchmaking services for companies, and encouraged delegation participation in the upcoming Asia Summit on Global Health.
The presentations were then followed by a panel discussion moderated by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Science History Institute, Dr David Cole, featuring the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the ConSynance Therapeutics, Dr Liu Shuang; the Head of Global Business Development of the Jecho Laboratories, Dr Sarah Johnson; and the Director, Deal Advisory, US-China Corridor of KPMG, Mr Jon Hung. The speakers discussed collaboration, fundraising, clinical development, and market expansion in Asia.
On the same evening, Ms Ho hosted a spring reception for guests from the city's political, business, financial, and academic communities.
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's life sciences and health innovation in Philadelphia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
