Safety alert: A jinzhen sample was found to contain the preservative sulphur dioxide above the permitted level.

Two out of 119 festive food samples have failed safety tests, the Centre for Food Safety says.

The food items collected for chemical and microbiological tests included puddings, glutinous rice balls, melon seeds, preserved meat, dried seafood and vegetarian foods.

The two unsatisfactory samples are a turnip pudding sample and a jinzhen - literally "golden needle", a type of dried plant - sample. The turnip pudding sample was found to contain the preservative benzoic acid, which is not permitted in this food.

The jinzhen sample was found to contain the preservative sulphur dioxide exceeding the permitted level. The samples were collected from two retail shops.

While the levels of preservatives detected in these samples pose little health risks, the retailers concerned have been advised to stop selling the products. The centre is now tracing the source of these food items.

Safety tips

Benzoic acid is a preservative commonly used in food while sulphur dioxide can be eliminated after thorough cooking.

People should be mindful of food safety when buying foods and preparing meals for the festive occasion. For example, they should not buy melon seeds that look too glossy as they may contain mineral oil, which might cause gastrointestinal discomfort.