December 4, 2012

Singapore strengthens food safety with new food screening technology

A new line of defence to its food screening system was added by Singapore's Agrifood and Veterinary Authority called the High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) technology.

The HRMS technology allows the detection of contaminants that are not usually targeted in screenings, thus complementing existing modes of screening. This form of screening is usually carried out on inherently high-risk foods such as meat, ready-to-eat food and cultured seafood, or food deemed high risk due to consumers who are potentially more sensitive to contaminants such as baby formula and food.

"Previously, our approach is to look at known food-borne hazards. But with the new approach we are looking for everything that could be there. So we should not miss items like melamine anymore," said Dr Ch'ng Ai Lee, Deputy Director of Laboratories Department, Veterinary Public Health Lab.