Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety announced Wednesday that it had tested 5,600 food samples in June, but 24 samples were found to have excessive or illegal use of food preservatives, veterinary drug residues or colorings, and metal contamination.

The center tested vegetables, fruit, meat, poultry, seafood, milk and milk products, frozen confections, cereals and grains, with an overall satisfactory rate of 99.6 percent.

Five ice-cream bars and five ice-cream samples were found to contain excessive coliform organisms. They were from the first consignments of two brand-new products imported into Hong Kong. All affected batches have been marked and sealed. No stock has been allowed on the market.

A fresh mushroom sample contained the heavy metal cadmium exceeding the legal limit, while a fresh beef sample contained the non-permitted preservative sulfur dioxide.

A frozen prawn sample was found to contain excessive cadmium and a dried fish maw sample contained the preservative sulfur dioxide exceeding the legal limit.

The center said the exceedances or breaches are not serious. It has traced the source of food in question, stopped their sale and issued warning letters. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will be taken.

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2009)