Mainland delegation visits Hong Kong to ensure sufficient supply of variety of food during Chinese New Year
The Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Ms Li Na, today (February 9) led a delegation to Hong Kong to observe the situation of the food supply from the Mainland to Hong Kong andto ensure that people in Hong Kong have sufficient supply of a variety of high-quality food during the Chinese New Year. Members of the delegation include representatives from the General Administration of Customs of the PRC, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, met with the delegation at noon and expressed gratitude for their annual visit to Hong Kong ahead of the Chinese New Year to observe the situation of the food supply from the Mainland. He said that the relevant Mainland authorities have strengthened the sources of supply and enhanced contingency plans to ensure the stability and safety of the food supply, fully demonstrating the Central Authorities' care and support for Hong Kong. Mr Tse also shared with the delegation on how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government rolls out various new food-related initiatives to align proactively with the National 15th Five-Year Plan.
The delegation visited the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse in the morning to observe the transportation, auction and slaughtering of live pigs supplied to Hong Kong. Accompanied by representatives of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the delegation visited the Wan Chai Market and the Western Wholesale Food Market in the afternoon to observe the distribution and sale of fresh food.
The Mainland is the primary source of agricultural products, especially live and fresh food, for Hong Kong. Relevant agencies on the Mainland have long attached great importance to the quality, safety and stability of food supplied to Hong Kong and have established a close liaison mechanism with Hong Kong. As the supply businesses of fresh food to Hong Kong have continued to grow on the Mainland, the quality and variety of food products supplied to Hong Kong have continued to improve, demonstrating the Central Government's care for the HKSAR and playing a crucial role in stabilising the supply and prices of fresh food to Hong Kong.
Mainland delegation visits Hong Kong to ensure sufficient supply of variety of food during Chinese New Year Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland delegation visits Hong Kong to ensure sufficient supply of variety of food during Chinese New Year Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Mainland delegation visits Hong Kong to ensure sufficient supply of variety of food during Chinese New Year Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
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
