Yuen Long Market Beef Found With Banned Preservative
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety said a fresh beef sample from a meat stall at Tai Kiu Market in Yuen Long tested positive for sulfur dioxide at 785ppm, even though the preservative is prohibited in fresh or chilled meat under the Preservatives in Food Regulation, Cap. 132BD . Sulfur dioxide is legally used in foods such as dried fruit, pickled vegetables and sausages for preservation and anti-browning, but not in fresh meat sold to consumers . The case has renewed attention on how illegal additives may be used to preserve a bright red appearance and create a false impression of freshness . A Hong Kong Baptist University chemistry expert said washing and cooking can remove much of the residue, but people with sulfite sensitivity should remain cautious because allergic symptoms and asthma may be triggered .
Key Points
- The Centre for Food Safety detected 785ppm of sulfur dioxide in a fresh beef sample from a Yuen Long Tai Kiu Market meat stall .
- Under Hong Kong’s Cap. 132BD, adding sulfur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat is illegal and offenders face fines up to HK$50,000 and six months’ jail .
- Officials said sulfur dioxide is otherwise a common preservative in dried fruits, pickled foods and sausages because it inhibits microbes and browning .
- The report said illegal use in beef can suppress oxidation of myoglobin, helping meat stay unnaturally bright red after prolonged air exposure .
- Professor 梁士賢 said sulfur dioxide dissolves in water, so soaking, rinsing and boiling uncovered for about three minutes can reduce residues .
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the food-safety risk posed when appearance-enhancing additives are used to mislead consumers about the freshness of meat sold in traditional markets . It also highlights a public-health concern for people with sulfite sensitivity, who may experience allergic reactions or asthma symptoms even if the chemical is generally considered low in toxicity .