Preserved duck breast sample not in compliance with nutrition label rules

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 26) announced that the sugar content in a preserved duck breast sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label. Follow-up is in progress.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Preserved duck breast
Place of origin: China
Net weight: Around 210 grams/two pieces per pack
Packer: A food manufacturer in Guangzhou (no English name available)
Best-before date: April 30, 2016

"The above-mentioned sample was taken from a retail outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. The result of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the actual sugar content of the sample (8.8g per 100g) and the declared content on its nutrition label (0g per 100g)," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor has voluntarily stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the affected product," the spokesman said.

According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), if any person falsely describes a food or misleads as to the nature, substance or quality of the food on a label of the food sold by him, he shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

The CFS will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action.

Ends/Thursday, November 26, 2015