Cheese sample fails food test

November 07, 2012

A cheese sample imported from Australia was found to contain sodium nitrite exceeding the legal limit, the Centre for Food Safety announced today.
 
In the centre’s targeted food surveillance on the use of nitrate and nitrite preservatives in meat, meat products and cheese, it collected 60 samples of fresh, chilled and frozen meat, 390 samples of meat products, including bacon and ham, and 50 cheese samples at different retail outlets in August and September for testing.
 
Of the 500 samples collected, one was found to be unsatisfactory, representing a pass rate of 99.8%.
 
The centre has taken follow-up action for the unsatisfactory sample, including asking the vendor concerned to stop its sale and dispose of the affected food item, issuing warning letters, and notifying Australian authorities.
 
Nitrite is of low toxicity and the consumption of the cheese concerned under usual situations will not cause adverse health effects.