HONG KONG: The Consumer Council reports it has found cadmium in 23 samples of peanut kernels test in the Hong Kong market. Cadmium, a chemical element, consumed in excess amounts may cause kidney damage. The council says the kidneys are particularly sensitive to cadmium chronic toxicity; the adverse effects of which include abnormal excretion of protein, amino acids and glucose in urine due to renal tubular dysfunction.

Levels of cadmium discovered in the test samples ranged from 0.05 mg/kg to 0.57 mg/kg. Two of the samples tested exceeded the mainland safety standard of 0.5 mg/kg.

The Consumer Council said peanuts and peanut products tested were free of the two most unpleasant contaminants, salmonella and aflatoxin.

Salmonella, a pathogenic bacteria, is a common cause of food poisoning while Aflatoxin is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to the liver.

Their absence was confirmed in a Consumer Council test on a range of 50 peanut products - peanut butter, biscuits, cookies, pastry, candies, glutinous rice balls as well as peanut kernels.

In addition to salmonella and aflatoxin the test also examined the peanut products for their content of toxic heavy metals.

No lead was detected in the samples.

The council warned against excess consumption, reminding consumers that peanuts are high in calories and fat.

The advice of dietitians is to adopt a balanced diet to minimize the risk of excessive consumption of any particular foodstuff. In terms of nuts intake, consume a mixture of nuts three times a week, at 28g each time.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/16/2009 page1)