Centre for Food Safety Controller Dr Mak Sin-ping says the Centre for Food Safety does not dispute a Consumer Council report on dried squid snacks, adding the two parties share a common goal of alerting the public to the importance of food safety.

The council's survey found eight of 23 shredded dried squid samples contained arsenic above the permitted level.

Speaking to the media today, Dr Mak said as the laws do not have any benchmarks on the permitted level of heavy metal in dried food, the centre had to do research and make reference to international standards after the Consumer Council passed the report on squid snacks to the authorities in late February.

Initial findings suggested the samples the Consumer Council tested did not contain excessive toxic substances, she said.

Although the amount of arsenic found in these samples had not exceeded the permitted level, continued consumption of this snack could cause harm to health, she added.

More tests to be done

The authorities will collect more samples in the market for heavy metal tests to assess the situation, she said.

Dr Mak denied that the there was a conflict between the Centre for Food Safety and the Consumer Council over the report.

She stressed that the two parties have a good working relationship and will continue to cooperate.