Chinese preserved sausage and liver sausage samples not in compliance with nutrition label rules

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 4) announced that the nutrition contents of a Chinese preserved sausage sample and a Chinese pork and duck liver sausage sample were found to be inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. Follow-up is in progress.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: On Kee Premium Preserved Sausages with Scallop
Place of origin: China
Distributor: On Kee Dry Seafood Company Limited
Net weight: 454 grams per pack
Best-before date: December 30, 2016

Product name: Chinese Pork & Duck Liver Sausage
Place of origin: China
Distributor: Super Star Group
Packing: 12 pieces per box
Best-before date: March 2, 2016

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned Chinese preserved sausage sample and Chinese pork and duck liver sausage sample from a retail outlet in Sheung Wan and a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui respectively for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The results of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the actual saturated fatty acids content (17.3g per 100g) in the Chinese preserved sausage sample and the declared content on its nutrition label (8.1g per 100g), and a discrepancy between the actual saturated fatty acids content (19.7g per 100g) and sugar content (14.6g per 100g) in the Chinese pork and duck liver sausage sample and the declared contents on its nutrition label (7g of saturated fatty acids and 7.7g of sugars per 100g)," a spokesman for the CFS said.

According to the CFS' Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims, the tolerance limits for contents of saturated fatty acids and sugars are both set at the level of not more than 120 per cent of the labelled value.

"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and the vendors have stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected batches of the products. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS has also followed up with the distributors concerned to trace the distribution of the affected products and request the distributors to stop sale of the products and remove them from shelves," 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 cases and take appropriate action.

Ends/Friday, December 4, 2015