The Centre for Food Safety has found five of 446 Lunar New Year food samples it tested to be unsatisfactory. The shops concerned have been told to stop selling the products while their sources are traced.

The samples included festive puddings and confectionery, dried vegetarian foods, preserved meat, dried seafood and poon choi.

A prepackaged bamboo fungus sample, a bamboo fungus sample sold in loose form, and a dried fish maw sample were found to contain excessive preservative sulphur dioxide.

A sample of Shanghai New Year pudding contained the preservatives benzoic acid and sulphur dioxide, exceeding permitted levels. A preserved pork sausage sample was found to have non-permitted colouring matter Red 2G.

Sulphur dioxide and benzoic acid are of low toxicity. They should not pose adverse health effects with normal consumption. As sulphur dioxide is soluble in water, it can be removed with thorough soaking, washing and cooking. However, people who are allergic to the substances might experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea.

The immediate health risk for consuming food containing Red 2G is low, but the risk of cancer cannot be ruled out with long-term consumption.