No. 295 Consumer Report.
Cooking oil is essential to consumers’ daily diet, the Consumer Council and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) conducted a test on cooking oil together to check their quality and hygienic condition. All 15 samples of cooking oil tested pass the test but one sample is found to contain aflatoxin B1 and low level pollutants of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), consumers are reminded to check carefully the product label and not to purchase oils when colour changes or turn rancid. Meanwhile, consumers should choose vegetable oil.
One sample contains aflatoxin and pollutants
The Consumer Council and IACM test 15 samples of peanut oil, corn oil, and canola oil, etc. for their freshness, contents of lead, aflatoxin B1 and B[a]P. The test result reviews that one sample contains carcinogens such as aflatoxin B1 and low level of B[a]P. The aflatoxin B1 contained in the sample does not exceed the standard level, and the amount of B[a]P taken through foods are generally safe to human’s health.
Aflatoxin B1 found in cooking oil is caused by improper storage of product or being stored for too long, B[a]P is a kind of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHS) and is a pollutant of nature, it can be caused during cooking at high temperatures.
Cooking oil mainly includes animal fat and vegetable oil, and the saturated fat in animal fat is easily accumulated in human veins, consumers are suggested to consumer vegetable oil and pay attention to the intake of all kinds of oil to avoid the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases.
Strengthened work on food inspection for consumers health
The Council indicates that more efficient and timely monitoring on food safety can be achieved through food inspection work so that measures can be taken to safeguard consumers’ health. The current test result can be found in issue no. 295 Consumer Report.
Analysis on 2017 supermarket price data
In order to improve the transparency of supermarket price information, the Council continues to survey prices of 375 food products from over 100 supermarkets in Macao, the detailed analysis report is now available in the latest issue of Consumer Report.
The latest Consumer Report includes a feature on the “Keep your shopping receipts 2018” game, and other reports on the works of the Consumer Council. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26, Edf. Clementina Ho), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries, and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) and WeChat official account.
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