【明報專訊】When it comes to food safety, what we are concerned about is human health and the prevention of the consumption of harmful foods. It is the government's duty to act as a gatekeeper and safeguard public health and living quality. Apart from the regulation of the manufacturing process, import, storage and sales of food, efforts should also be made to raise consumers' awareness of food safety.

■Modern China × Energy Technology and the Environment

Environmental problems × food pollution

The reckless(輕率的) way in which factories in mainland China dispose of waste and a lack of government regulation have led to a serious problem of water and soil pollution in regions where crops are planted, seriously affecting food safety and public health.

Soil pollution

In May 2013, rice produced by three Hunan factories was found by the Guangzhou authorities to contain excessive cadmium(鎘), causing a widespread panic. According to Professor Michael Hon-Wah Lam of the City University of Hong Kong, cadmium found in soil and water is easily absorbed by rice and vegetables. If land and the water source are polluted by industrial waste, heavy metals will find their way into food, which cannot be removed through rinsing.

Water pollution

In November 2016, samples of the Chinese mitten crabs(大閘蟹) imported from Lake Tai, Jiangsu were found by the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety to contain excessive dioxin(二噁英), a carcinogenic substance. Import of Chinese mitten crabs from related farms was banned immediately. The Jiangsu authorities investigated the case and laid the blame on a partial pollution of Lake Tai.

■Modern China

Malicious food× government's authority

A string of incidents involving "malicious food" in mainland China, including gutter oil, powered milk that causes oversized baby heads, eggs containing Sudan dyes, has not only threatened public health but also dealt a blow to the government's authority. Han Changfu(韓長賦), the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, says that while he cannot guarantee that there is not a food safety problem, the government will handle the issue with zero tolerance.

■Globalisation×public health

The overuse of antibiotics in poultry

In recent years, the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture has aroused global concern. Farmers use antibiotics not only to treat animals' diseases, but also to speed up their growth. The consumption of food contaminated with antibiotics is giving rise to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

■Today's Hong Kong

Regulation of heavy metal in foods

The Centre for Food Safety suggested the amendment of the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations. A public consultation was launched between June and September in 2017, and the result was published in January 2018. The centre recommended an amendment of the law by increasing the number of maximum levels of metallic contaminants covered by the Regulations from 19 to 145. However, it also suggested raising the acceptable of cadmium in rice from 0.1 milligrams per kilogram to 0.2 milligrams, putting it on a par with mainland and European Union standards.

[通通識 第526期]