The Consumer Council has found traces of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury as well as pesticide residues in ginseng products commonly available in Hong Kong, but says there is no cause for alarm.
The heavy metals and residues of the pesticides DDT and BHC were found in all but six of 31 samples tested by the council.
'But there is no cause for consumers to be unduly concerned as the amount of contaminants in these samples is small,' said Dr Lo Chi-kin, chairman of the council's publicity and community relations committee.
'None of the samples was in breach of the safety limits set by the World Health Organisation or the Department of Health in Hong Kong,' he said.
The 31 samples included 11 varieties of instant ginseng tea, six brands of ginseng tea bags, 11 types of ginseng capsules and three types of raw ginseng.
Only six were free of any traces of heavy metals or pesticide residues. The remaining 25 contained a small amount of heavy metals, but in compliance with the Department of Health's limits.