Macau Consumer Council Tests 15 Salt Brands for Heavy Metals, All Pass Safety Check
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Macau Consumer Council collaborated with the Municipal Affairs Bureau Food Safety Department to conduct a comprehensive safety test on 15 salt products sold in Macau supermarkets. The testing focused on four heavy metal contaminants—total arsenic, cadmium, lead, and total mercury—that pose potential health risks to consumers. All 15 samples passed the examination, with none exceeding regulatory limits set under Macau Regulation 23/2018 on Maximum Limits for Heavy Metal Contaminants in Food. The results were published in the July 2026 issue of the consumer magazine "Macau Consumer" (Issue 395).
Key Points
- The Macau Consumer Council and Municipal Affairs Bureau Food Safety Department purchased all 15 salt samples as regular consumers from local supermarkets
- Salt products tested ranged from 200g to 1kg or 1lb packages, with origins from mainland China, Japan, Spain, New Zealand, Portugal, Australia, and South Korea
- Cadmium, classified by the WHO's IARC as a Group 1 human carcinogen, can cause kidney damage, proteinuria, diabetes, and calcium metabolism disorders with chronic exposure
- Lead contamination can trigger digestive issues and anemia acutely, while long-term exposure harms liver and kidneys, particularly affecting children's intellectual development
- Mercury accumulates through food chains and particularly threatens developing fetuses, infants, and young children's brain development
Why It Matters
The successful testing of all 15 salt products demonstrates that salt available in the Macau market meets stringent safety standards for heavy metal contamination. For Hong Kong consumers, this provides a reliable reference point when purchasing salt products, as both regions share similar regulatory frameworks and import sources for food products. The findings underscore the importance of regular food safety monitoring in protecting public health from long-term heavy metal exposure risks.
The successful testing of all 15 salt products demonstrates that salt available in the Macau market meets stringent safety standards for heavy metal contamination. For Hong Kong consumers, this provides a reliable reference point when purchasing salt products, as both regions share similar regulatory frameworks and import sources for food products. The findings underscore the importance of regular food safety monitoring in protecting public health from long-term heavy metal exposure risks.