Hong Kong food safety tests find four samples failed in September
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety tested about 7,000 food samples in September, finding four failed samples including pesticide residue, E. coli, and salmonella. The centre will continue enhanced radiation monitoring of Japanese food imports.
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has released its monthly food safety report for September, revealing that four out of about 7,000 food samples tested failed to meet legal standards. The results were announced on 30 October 2026.
According to a CFS spokesman, the centre conducted microbiological tests on approximately 1,900 food samples and chemical and radiation level tests on about 5,100 samples. Microbiological testing covered pathogens and hygiene indicators, while chemical testing included pesticides, preservatives, metal impurities, dyes and veterinary drug residues. Radiation level testing measured radioactive caesium and iodine in food imported from different regions.
The samples comprised about 2,200 vegetables, fruits and their products; about 500 cereals and cereal products; about 800 meat, poultry and their products; about 1,000 milk, milk products and frozen desserts; about 800 aquatic products and their products; and about 1,700 other categories including beverages, baked goods and snacks.
The four failed samples were a loofah sample and a chicken egg sample imported from Vietnam with pesticide residues exceeding legal standards; a ready-to-eat oyster sample with elevated E. coli levels; and a Hainanese chicken rice sample containing salmonella. The CFS has taken follow-up action, including notifying the businesses involved, ordering them to stop selling the problematic food, and tracing the sources of the issues.
The spokesman reminded food businesses to ensure their products are safe for consumption and comply with legal requirements, while advising consumers to patronise reliable shops and maintain a balanced diet to reduce risks.
In response to Japan's discharge of treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the CFS said it will continue to step up testing of Japanese food imports and adjust monitoring work based on risk assessment results. The centre publishes daily radiation test results for Japanese food samples on a dedicated webpage to keep the industry and public informed.
