The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) and the Health Bureau (SSM) completed the “Targeted food study and surveillance on beverages with short shelf life produced in Macao". 100 samples of beverages with a shelf life of a few days produced locally were collected and underwent food safety and nutrient content tests. The overall pass rate reached 99%, showing that beverages with short shelf life produced and sold on the market in Macao generally satisfied food safety and hygiene requirements. However, 24 samples were deemed high sugar content beverages and 4 of those samples exceeded the daily sugar intake limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Consumers are advised to select small sized and sugarless beverages to become healthier.
Some businesses in Macao have launched various kinds of cooling beverages, such as bottled coffee or milk tea, sugar cane juice, soy milk, cold brew tea, Chinese herbal tea with Canton Abrus Herb, etc. As most of the mentioned products are produced locally for the local market, the shelf life of the products is quite short. The products are mainly contained and sold in plastic bottles with screw caps, which may increase the risk of the contamination of the beverages. Meanwhile, most of the mentioned products are sweet, with a few products containing ingredients like fruit pulp, konjac or Job's tears. The energy and sugar content of the beverages are relatively high, and excessive consumption of these products increases the risk of obesity and other chronic illnesses.
To understand the hygiene, safety and nutrition of the mentioned products, IAM and SSM cooperated to launch the “Targeted food study and surveillance on beverages with short shelf life produced in Macao". 100 samples of beverages collected in “cha chaan teng" establishments, bakeries, light meal takeaway shops, dessert shops, etc. were tested for microbiological substances, mycotoxins, plasticizers, etc. At the same time, the sugar content and energy level of the products were also tested.
Products pass food safety tests but contain large amounts of sugar
Out of the 100 beverage samples, an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus was detected in 1 soy milk sample. IAM has immediately followed up on the situation and requested the establishment involved to stop the production and sale of the relevant product and improve the production and preparation process and food storage condition. No abnormalities have been observed in the test results of the remaining samples, which showed that there is a relatively small risk of the consumption of beverages with short shelf life sold on the local market. As for the nutrient composition of the samples tested in this targeted surveillance, 1 bottle of beverage contains the energy of about half a bowl of rice or 5 sugar cubes on average. Among them, there were 24 samples of beverages, about one quarter of the samples, in the red group (high sugar content beverages, with a sugar content level of 7.5 grams or above per 100 ml). Consumption of 1 bottle of 4 of the samples mentioned above exceeds the daily intake limit of sugar of adults (i.e. 10 sugar cubes) recommended by WTO. In addition, a honey rose beverage in the category of desserts or special mixed beverages, as well as water melon juice, sugar cane juice and bottled iced lemon tea in the category of fruit and vegetable juice or fruit tea beverages also have a relatively high sugar content.
Do not store beverages at room temperature for prolonged periods of time and water is the best option
IAM and SSM advise consumers to patronise reputable and hygienic shops, consume beverages with short shelf life as soon as possible after purchase and avoid storing them at room temperature for prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, consumers should avoid consuming desserts, mixed beverages, fruit and vegetable juice, concentrated beverages and beverages containing honey or processed honey. They should also consume milk tea, coffee, sweet and sour beverages and beverages with “less sugar" labels in limited amounts. They are advised to choose small sized or sugarless beverages, with water being the best option.
The “Targeted food study and surveillance on beverages with short shelf life produced in Macao" has been uploaded to the “Risk Assessment – Analysis Report on Targeted Food Surveillance" on the Food Safety Information website (www.foodsafety.gov.mo) for the perusal of the sector and the public.
