The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has ordered the surrender of a chilli powder for disposal after one sample of the product was found to contain unsafe dyes, Sudan I and Sudan IV.

Releasing the latest results of its food surveillance programme, the department's Assistant Director Dr Thomas Chung said the sample was collected last month  following reports about food products containing Sudan I in Britain.

"The product was sold in plastic bags without any brand. All the remaining stock has been surrendered for disposal. We will continue to check for other similar products in the market," Dr Chung said.

He stressed that there are no immediate health risks and that there should be no cause for undue alarm.

Dr Chung said about  2,700 food samples have been taken for microbiological and chemical testing in the latest round of food surveillance.

Apart from the chilli powder, Dr Chung said one candy sample was found to contain benzoic acid, a preservative not permitted to be used in this product, while one red jujube sample was found to have sulphur dioxide exceeding the permitted level.

HK's food safety standards remain high

In addition, he said one vegetable sample was found to have a low level of pesticide.

While the failed samples are unlikely to have acute harmful effects on health in normal consumption, Dr Chung said retailers have been advised to stop selling the products in question and to comply with the legal requirements.

As for microbiological tests, which target pathogenic bacteria and viruses, the results last month for about 700 food samples were all satisfactory, he said, adding that the overall results show that food safety standards remain high in Hong Kong.