Hong Kong updates on second Total Diet Study, finds low health risks
Hong Kong's Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology updated lawmakers on the second Total Diet Study, reporting that dietary intake of perchlorate, pesticide residues, cadmium and lead poses minimal health risks. The study now includes younger age groups for the first time.
Hong Kong's Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, in a 10 November 2026 address to the Legislative Council's Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, provided an update on the city's second Total Diet Study (TDS). The study, conducted by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, assesses dietary exposure to harmful substances and their potential health risks.
The TDS follows the risk analysis framework advocated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, integrating risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. The Acting Secretary noted that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization promote this comprehensive approach, which provides a scientific basis for food safety policies.
Three new reports were presented, covering perchlorate, pesticide residues, and the heavy metals cadmium and lead. Overall, the dietary intake of these substances was found to have minimal impact on health when compared with international reference values. For pesticide residues and cadmium and lead, intake levels among the adult population have decreased compared with the first TDS conducted more than a decade ago.
For the first time, the second TDS includes a younger age group — those aged 6 to 17 — in addition to adults, to provide a more complete picture of dietary exposure. The Acting Secretary said the CFS will continue to enhance public understanding of the study's findings and promote practical advice to help consumers make informed dietary choices.
A international expert symposium on the TDS is planned for early 2027 to foster collaboration and share Hong Kong's experience in food safety. The CFS's Chief Medical Officer (Risk Assessment and Communication), Dr. Kung Kin-ting, was scheduled to present further details and answer questions from lawmakers.