Objective To investigate cadmium contamination in retailed rice in Guangdong Province and make preliminary dietary exposure assessment of cadmium intake. Methods According to simple random sampling method, 30－50 rice samples were randomly collected from supermarkets, stalls and markets in 21 prefecture level cities and Shunde District in Guangdong Province in 2012 Cadmium concentrations in samples were examined according to GB/T 5009.15－2003. Based on the dietary consumption data from survey of the nutrition and health status among residents in Guangdong in 2002, rice dietary exposure levels of cadmium at general consumption (P50) and high consumption (P97.5) were calculated separately for different age and gender groups. Results A total of 1 060 rice samples were collected in various regions of Guangdong Province Cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.000 5 to 2.100 0 mg/kg , the median was 0.078 0 mg/kg. Cadmium content in 48 samples (4.5%) exceeded the national standard (0.2 mg/kg). The medians of cadmium in rice and the exceeding stangard rates were staticstically different in the 22 cities or district（all P<0.05). The highest content of cadmium in rice (median 0.188 0 mg/kg) and highest exceeding standard rate (42.0%, 21/50) were found in Shaoguan City, The medians of cadmium in rice samples collected in cities and villages were 0.075 0 and 0.083 0 mg/kg, respectively(P>0.05). The average monthly intake of cadmium from rice by the total survey population was 12.59μg/(kg?bw), 0.50 times of the provisional tolerated monthly intake (PTMI). Cadmium intake in the children group of 2－7 years old was 26.07μg/(kg?bw)，exceeding PTMI. For those at the high level (P＜97.5) of rice consumption, cadmium intake was 23.34μg/(kg?bw), 0.93 times of PTMI. Conclusion The average concentration of cadmium in retailed rice in Guangdong was not high and the exceeding standard rate was 4.5%. The rice collected in some cities had higher cadmium content In general, the cadmium intake from rice by the survey population was safe More attention should be paid to the dietary cadmium intake for children and those who may consume high level of rice.

Objective To analyze foodborne disease surveillance results of Guangdong in 2012 and explore the foodborne disease surveillance strategies. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze data collecting from active symptom surveillance of foodborne disease (including food poisoning) reports of outbreaks with two and more patients (or 1 and more deaths) from 27 hospitals in 12 cities, suspected cases of foodborne disease and abnormal health event report, and pathogen testing results of stool/anus swabs of patients with diarrhea as main symptom in the surveillance hospitals. Results A total of 96 outbreaks of foodborne diseases (including food poisoning) were reported. These outbreaks caused a reported 1 037 persons to become ill and 6 deaths. The case fatality rate was 5.8 per thousand. Food poisoning occurred mainly in the third quarter of 2012. The number of poisoning outbreaks accounted for 35.4% (34/96) of the yearly total outbreaks and the number of cases accounted for 37.1% (385/1 037) of the total number of poisoning. Restaurants, families and canteens were main places of high incidence. In total, 600 patients in 49 outbreaks were caused by microbial contamination, of which 193 patients in 17 outbreaks were caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 155 patients in 11 outbreaks by Salmonella. The top four foods causing food poisoning were meat and its products (23.8%, 19/80), legumes and their products (13.8%, 11/80), seafood (10.0%, 8/80), and toadstool (10.0%, 8/80). No suspected cases of foodborne disease and abnormal health incident were reported. A total of 2 192 cases were collected, mainly concentrating from May to August, and their main symptoms were diarrhea (55.2%, 1 211/2 192), fever (28.5%, 625/2 192), and vomiting (16.4%, 360/2 192). Totally, 790 strains of Salmonella, 9 strains of Shigella and 32 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from 21 358 stool/anus swabs sent by surveillance hospitals. Salmonella serotypes mainly included Typhimurium (26.1%, 206/790), Typhimurium variant (I 4,5,12:i:－) (15.6%, 123/790), Enteritidis (14.7%, 116/790), and Stanley (10.6%,84/790). Salmonella was resistant to sulfamethizole, tetracycline, ampicillin, nalidixic acid, and streptomycin, but sensitive to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefepime, ciprofloxacin. Nine suspected foodborne disease gathering events were found through the surveillance system, of which, one was verified as salmonella infection, and the others were unclear. Conclusion Foodborne disease (including food poisoning) in Guangdong showed seasonal fluctuations and mainly caused by microbial contamination. The surveillance of foodborne disease generally reflected foodborne disease outbreak situation in Guangdong, but the defining objects of surveillance and report quality should be improved.

Objective To investigate contamination levels of several food pathogens in infant food in Guangdong. Methods According to the population distribution, characteristics of food production and regional distribution features of Guangdong Province, food samples were collected from supermarkets, department stores, convenience stores and farmer's markets in counties, towns and districts of 13 prefecture level cities of the province. Enterobacter sakazakii, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aurea in infant food (including infant formula milk powder and cereal based supplementary food) were detected quantitatively and qualitatively according to the Work Manual for National Food Pathogens Surveillance (Version 2012) . Results A total of 314 samples of infant food were collected from 64 manufacturers, of which, 92 were infant formula milk powder and 222 were cereal based supplementary food. Ten Enterobacter sakazakii strains were confirmed in 314 samples with a detection positive rate of 3.18%, of which 2 strains were from infant formula milk powder (2.17%) and 8 strains from cereal based supplementary food (3.60%). Ninety Bacillus cereus isolates were confirmed and the detection positive rate was 28.67%, of which, 28 strains were from infant formula milk powder (30.43%) and 62 from cereal based supplementary food (27.92%). No Staphylococcus aurea strains were found. The result of quantitative determination showed that one sample was greater than 110 MPN/100g and the others were less than 5 MPN/100g for Enterobacter sakazakii, and 3 samples were greater than 103 MPN/100g and 41 samples less than 102 MPN/100g for Bacillus cereus. Plate count was also used to determine the number of Bacillus cereus in samples. Of 24 samples, it is found that the number of Bacillus cereus in 14 samples were less than 102 CPU/100g, but no Bacillus cereus was observed in other 10 samples. Conclusion The contamination of the Enterobacter sakazakii and Bacillus cereus in infant food should not be ignored. They were potential risks for infant health. The supervision of pathogenic microorganisms in infant food and the surveillance of the related foodborne diseases should be strengthened.

Objective To find out the risk factors of Salmonella outbreak in a school, and to put forward prevention and control measures. Methods Descriptive epidemiology study was performed to survey the basic hygiene conditions of the school. Case control study was conducted to investigate the suspected meal and food through questionnaires. Specimens from patients, culinary workers, residual foods and environment samples were collected for pathogenic isolation, serotype and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) molecular classification. Results First case’s onset date was June 9 and last case’s was June 12. The outbreak lasted 4 days. Epidemiological curve suggested that it be a point source outbreak. A total of 61 cases were identified and were all boarding students, including 12 males and 49 females. The incidence of female (10.7%, 49/460) was significantly higher than that of males (3.9%, 12/309) (P<0.01). Case control study indicated that the egg sandwich of breakfast on June 9 was the risk factor to cause this outbreak (OR=21.70，95% CI:-8.50－55.50). A total of 25 strains of Salmonella enteritidis were isolated and identified, of which 19 were from anal swabs of 25 patients, 5 from anal swabs of 14 canteens kitchen staff, and 1 from 11 swabs of refrigerator handles, respectively. PFGE analysis showed that all the 25 strains had the same PFGE type. Conclusion This was a foodborne disease outbreak caused by Salmonella enteritidis and the risk factor was egg sandwich of breakfast. Health supervision and inspection authorities should pay much attention to all kind of food with eggs as the raw material.

Objective To study the serotypes, virulent genes and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from food poisonings in recent years, providing scientific basis for further prevention and control. Methods Serotypes of 35 isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated by CDCs of Zhanjiang, Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Huizhou were determined with serological experiment. Virulent genes tdh and trh were detected by PCR．Antibiotic resistance was examined by K-B disk diffusion method. Results Thirty five isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing food poisonings belonged to 6 serotypes of O1, O2, O3, O4, O8, and O10 and their constituent ratios were 20.0%, 2.9%, 62.9%, 8.6%, 2.9%, and 2.9%, respectively. Of 35 isolates, 18 isolates were identified as serotype O3:K6, accounting for 51.4%(18/35). The carrying rates of tdh and trh genes were 88.6% (31/35) and 8.6%(3/35) , respectively. All isolates were resistant to streptomycin, ampicillin and amikacin, and their resistance rates were 100%, 80% (28/35) and 74.3% (26/35), respectively. Their sensitivity rates ranged from 82.9% to 94.3% to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, sulphonamides compound, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone. Conclusion The dominant serotype of Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing food poisonings in some cities of Guangdong Province was O3 and the most dominant serotype was O3:K6. Most of isolates had the tdh gene and were sensitive to many antibiotics．

Objective To investigate the quinolone resistance to Salmonella and mutation relevant to quinolone resistance in Guangdong Province. Methods We select four main Salmonella serovars from Non typhi Salmonella surveillance in Guangdong between 2010 and 2011 to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin by semi quantitative susceptibility test and detect mutants in gyrA and parC by sequencing. Results Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella I 4,5,12:i:-, Salmonella enteritidis, and Salmonella stanley from 2010 to 2011 were selected for the antimicrobial susceptibility test. We found 75.4% (374/496) of Salmonella were resistant to nalidixic acid, of which resistant rates of Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella I 4,5,12:i:-, Salmonella enteritidis and Stanley salmonella to nalidixic acid were 82.5% (207/251), 84.0% (84/100), 79.5% (70/88), and 22.8% (13/57), respectively.5.4% of Salmonella were resistant to ciprofloxacin.8.0% of Salmonella typhimurium was resistant to ciprofloxacin, followed by Salmonella I 4,5,12:i:- (5.0%) and Salmonella enteritidis (2.3%). Mutants were detected in 71.7% of Salmonella typhimurium isolates.86.1% of the mutants were detected in gyrA and 37.2% in parC , and 23.3% in both genes. Locus mutation at Ser83 in gyrA was observed in 35.0% of the ciprofloxacin resistant isolates, 3.1% of intermediate isolates and 3.0% of the susceptible isolates (P<0.01). Locus mutation at Asp87 in gyrA was observed in 75.0% of the ciprofloxacin resistant isolates, 65.6% of intermediate isolates and 55.8% of the susceptible isolates (P>0.05). Arg was detected in all five isolates with mutants at Ser80 in parC. Nine isolates with Thr57 mutants in parC were all resistant to nalidixic acid. Conclusion Generally Salmonella isolates in Guangdong were highly resistant to nalidixic acid, but sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Mutants in gyrA and parC which might affect quinolone resistance in Salmonella isolates should be confirmed by further experiments.

Objective To understand the usage of food additives in Guangzhou City during 2007－2011. Methods Sampling sites were selected by multi stage stratified random sampling method in major consuming places (catering services, supermarkets, meat grocers, wholesale markets, retail shops, etc.) in 12 districts (or county level cities) of Guangzhou during 2007－2011. We collected only one sample from each batch of similar food samples of different merchants by random sampling Methods. Food additives (including preservatives, sweeteners, decolorizer bleach, color fixative and colorants) were detected and assessed in accordance with national standard Methods. Results Among 1 996 various food samples collected, 1 596 were qualified, with a passing rate of 79.96%. The qualified items were 11 531 out of the 11 999 total monitored items, with a passing rate of 96.10%. The number of checkout items were 2 433, with a positive rate of 20.28%. The passing rates were 95.17% (3 113/3 271) for the preservative（benzoic acid, sorbic acid）, 88.65% (789/890) for the sweetener（sodium saccharin, sodium cyclamate, acesulfame K）, 84.66% (276/326) for the decolorizer(sulfur dioxide), 99.90% (1 001/1 002) for color protection agent(nitrite) and 97.57% (6 352/6 510) for colorants(carmine, amaranth, tartrazine, sunset yellow, blue). The passing rates of five main foodstuffs were 86.72% (875/1 009) for the deli meats, 57.94% (146/252) for candied succades, 100.00% (212/212) for beverage, 73.22% (134/183) for rice and flour products, and 67.35% (229/340) for cold vegetable dish in sauce, with statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion There were varying degrees of excessive use of 12 kinds of food additives among five main foodstuffs in Guangzhou. Therefore, we suggest strengthening the monitoring of food additives.

Objective To investigate the alcohol drinking status of residents aged 15 and over in Guangdong Province and to provide scientific evidence of the development for alcohol related health education strategies and intervention measures for Guangdong Province. Methods Using multi stage stratified cluster sampling, seven districts/counties of Luohu in Shenzhen, Tianhe in Guangzhou, Jinwan in Zhuhai, Duanzhou in Zhaoqing, Chancheng in Foshan, Boluo in Huizhou, and Yangxi in Yangjiang cities were selected. Six resident/village committees were sampled in each county, 75 households were sampled in each resident/village committee, and then, family members aged 15 and over were selected to participate in the survey. Survey contents included personal general situation, alcohol drinking in the past 12 months, types of alcoholic beverage, frequency, average consumption of every time, etc.Descriptive epidemiological analysis was carried out on the survey. Results In total, 7 703 residents aged 15 and over were investigated, of whom 960 were drinkers, with a crude drinking rate of 12.5% (960/7 703) and a standardized drinking rate of 13.4%. The crude drinking rates were 24.2% (799/3 305) for men and 3.7% (161/4 398) for women; standardized drinking rates were 29.1% for men and 3.1% for women, respectively. The male standardized drinking rate was higher than that of female (P<0.01). The crude drinking rates were 16.3% (358/2 204), 12.4% (422/3 413), and 8.6% (180/2 086) for residents in large, medium sized and small cities, and rural areas, and their standardized drinking rates were 13.4%, 12.1%, and 10.5%, respectively (P<0.05). The crude drinking rates were 1.4% (5/368), 14.4% (497/3 440), 13.3% (300/2 259), and 9.7% (158/1 636) for 15－, 18－, 45－, and 60 and over age groups of residents and their standardized drinking rates were 3.4%, 18.7%, 8.5%, and 5.3%, respectively (P< 0.01). 51.6% (412/799) of male drinkers and 39.8% (64/161) of female drinkers drank five or more times a week. The top three types of alcoholic beverage were beer, white spirit, and wine, accounting for 62.1% (596/960), 51.8% (497/960), and 34.8% (334/960), respectively. Among the highly liquor drinkers, 44.4% (127/286) of them drank more than 150 g of white spirit each time. Conclusion Alcohol drinking behavior was common in urban and rural residents aged 15 and over in Guangdong Province. A further investigation is necessary to find out the key risk population and make targeted intervention measures to reduce the drinking behavior and alcohol consumption.

Objective To study the edible oil intakes among Guangdong residents between 2002 and 2012 and to provide evidence for developing strategies to intervene their intake of edible oil. Methods Using multi stage stratified cluster sampling, 8 counties were selected from 1 large city, 1 medium sized and small city and 6 rural areas in 2002; 6 resident/village committees were randomly selected in each county and 30 households were then randomly sampled from each resident/village committee. Seven counties were selected from 2 large cities, 3 medium sized and small cities and 2 rural areas; 6 resident/village committees were randomly selected in each county and 30 households were then randomly sampled from each resident/village committee in 2012. Family members aged 2 years and over were interviewed adopting the method of questionnaires and dietary surveys. Contents of the questionnaire included socio demographic characteristics and economic income of the participants. The gravimetric method was used for dietary surveys. Data of the surveys were analyzed by using descriptive epidemiological method. Results A total of 4 801 residents (2 408 males and 2 394 females) and 3 222 residents (1 466 males and 1 756 females) aged 2 years and over were investigated in 2002 and 2012, respectively. The average daily edible oil intakes were 31.2, 33.1, and 33.8 g in 2002, and 43.7, 32.1, and 32.0 g in 2012 for residents in large, medium sized and small cities, and rural areas in Guangdong, respectively. Percentages of edible oil daily intake per person were 21.5%（117/544）, 24.8%（129/521）, and 39.7%（1 483/3 736）in 2002，and 35.1%（279/795）, 24.8%（374/1 509）, and 29.1%（267/918）in 2012, respectively, for residents in large, medium sized and small cities, and rural areas, exceeding the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) of the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents. The percentage of residents whose edible oil intakes exceeded RDA to the total number of survey population was significantly decreased from 36.0% (1 729/4 801) in 2002 to 28.6% (920/3 222) in 2012 (P<0.01). The differences of percentages exceeding RDA for edible oil intakes were statistically significant in three areas in 2002 (P<0.01), of which the percentage in rural areas was all higher than the ones in the large, medium sized and small cities ( all P<0.01）. The differences of percentages exceeding RDA for edible oil intakes were statistically significant in three areas in 2012 (P<0.01), of which the percentage in large cities was higher than the ones in medium sized and small cities and rural areas (all P<0.01). Conclusion Compared with 2002, the percentage of exceeding RDA for edible oil intakes was decreased in 2012. However, the health education still needs to be strengthened．

Objective To investigate intake levels of trans fatty acid (TFA)-containing food. Methods Districts of Yuexiu, Liwan, Huangpu, Baiyun, Panyu, Huadu, and Nansha in Guangzhou were chosen by multi stage random sampling method and considering differences in the level of regional development. Six resident committees were systematically sampled in each district. Forty households were randomly chosen in each committee. All family members aged 3 years and over were investigated. The self designed questionnaire covered the basic situation of households, basic personal situation and the consumption frequency of TFA-containing food in the past three months. The basic situation of households included family income, number of household members, ethnic, etc.The basic personal situation included age, gender, occupation, and so on. The data were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiologic method. Results A total of 5 244 residents aged 3 years and over were investigated, of whom 2 565 were male and 2 679 were female, and the ratio of male to female was 1∶0.96. The number (percentage) in the groups aged 3 to 6, 7 to 12, 13 to 17, 18 to 49, and≥50 years were 931 (17.8%), 1 064 (20.3%), 1 063 (20.3%), 1 797 (34.2%), and 389 (7.4%), respectively. Their education level was mainly middle school or higher , accounting for 60.1%（3 152/5 244) of the total population. Percentages of average monthly household income in 2011 at ＜3 000, 3 000－, 5 000－ and ≥8 000 Yuan were 22.5% (1 178/5 244), 22.0% (1 148/5 244), 19.9% (1 043/5 244), and 32.5% (1 704/5 244), respectively. Foods containing much more TFA-were milk, hydrogenated vegetable oil, bread, pastries, frozen drinks, fresh meat and products, and fried food, and the consumed contents were 141.18, 25.55, 25.34, 19.43, 19.33, 19.09, and 17.18 g/d, respectively. The average intake levels of milk, bread, pastries, puffed food, fried food, quick frozen food, frozen drinks, solid beverage, and chocolate candies between different aged groups were significantly different (all P＜0.05 or P<0.01), of which average intake levels in groups aged 7－12 and 13－17 years were higher than other age groups. Average intake levels of milk, bread, pastries, fried food, quick frozen food, frozen drinks, solid beverage, chocolate, and candies between different family income groups were significantly different (all P＜0.05 or P<0.01), of which the average intake levels in ≥8 000 Yuan group were higher than other groups. Conclusion School age children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years in Guangzhou had higher intake levels of TFA-containing food. It is necessary to carry out further research in this population, to lay a foundation for the following risk assessment.

During January to March in 2013, a meat adulteration scandal, that beef products were found to contain undeclared horsemeat which may contain the veterinary drug banned for use in food producing animals—phenylbutazone, has been revealed in some supermarkets of several European countries. After investigation, this incident was eventually defined as one of fraudulent labeling. This article gives an overview of the horsemeat scandal, as well as a discussion on the pros and cons of the responding procedures, thus to provide reference for us to cope with such kind of issues in China.

Objective To study the genotoxicity and teratogenicity of Wanglaoji herbal tea. Methods NIH mice were gavaged with Wanglaoji herbal tea extract at doses of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/kg?bw（equivalent to 16.65, 33.30, and 66.60 g/kg?bw of herbal crude drugs）to examine sperm abnormality and micronuclei of bone marrow using bone marrow cell micronucleus test and mice sperm abnormality test. Salmonella typhimurium strains of TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102 were used in Ames tests at the doses of 5 000, 1 000, 200, 40, and 8 μg/plate of Wanglaoji herbal tea extract（equivalent to 33.30, 6.66, 1.33, 0.27, and 0.05 mg/plate of herbal crude drugs），to determine each state's number of revertant colonies. Pregnant SD female rats were exposed to doses of 1.63, 3.25, 6.50 g/kg?bw of Wanglaoji herbal tea extract（equivalent to 10.86, 21.65, 43.29 g/kg?bw of herbal crude drugs） through stomach feeding for conducting the teratogenicity test. Embryonic and fetal developmental parameters were surveyed. External, skeletal and internal organ anomalies were examined. Both negative and positive control groups were set in bone marrow cell micronucleus test, mouse sperm abnormality test and Ames test. Only negative control group was set in teratogenicity test. Results No significant differences were found in micronucleus rates of negative control group and three dose groups of Wanglaoji herbal tea extract (1.8‰, 2.0‰, 2.4‰, and 2.2‰ for male mouse group and 2.0‰, 2.4‰, 2.0‰, and 2.6‰ for female mouse group, respectively) and the sperm deformity rates (17.2‰, 14.8‰, 18.0‰, and 19.0‰, respectively) (all P>0.05）. Compared with the control group, Ames test (in presence or absence of S9) did not show Wanglaoji herbal tea extract groups a 2 fold increase in the spontaneous reversion colonies. The result of Ames test was negative. The result of teratogenicity test showed that no significant difference was found in activity, weight gain, live birth rate, stillbirth rate, and absorbed fetus rate of pregnant mice between the control and Wanglaoji herbal tea extract groups (all P>0.05）. There was no difference in the rates of fetal mortality and embryos absorption, as well as in the increase of weight, body length and tail length of fetal mice between the control and Wanglaoji herbal tea extract groups（all P>0.05）. No external or internal organ or skeletal anomalies was observed. The result of teratogenicity test was negative. Conclusion Under the experimental conditions and dose ranges in this paper, the genotoxicity and teratogenic effects of Wanglaoji herbal tea extract were not observed.