Two prepackaged food samples not in compliance with nutrition label rules

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 29) announced that the nutrient contents of two prepackaged food samples, namely a canned coffee sample and a cheese cracker chips sample were found to be inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling affected batches of the products immediately.

Product details are as follows:

(1) Product name: Four Seas Premium Blend Coffee
Place of origin: China
Trademark owner: Four Seas Mercantile Limited
Net volume: 250 millilitres per can
Best-before date: June 2, 2017

(2) Product name: CHEEZ-IT Crispy Cracker Chips - Grooves Cheddar Ranch
Place of origin: USA
Manufacturer: Kellogg's
Net weight: 9 ounces/255 grams per pack
Best before date: March 19, 2016

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned coffee sample and cheese cracker chips sample from two supermarkets in To Kwa Wan and Causeway Bay respectively for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The results of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the actual content of total fat (0.32g per 100ml) in the coffee sample and the declared content on its nutrition label (0.2g per 100ml). As for the cheese cracker chips sample, its sugar (7.5g per 100g) and dietary fibre (2.6g per 100g) contents do not tally with the declared contents on its nutrition label (0g of sugar per 29g, i.e. 0g per 100g; and 2g of dietary fibre per 29g, i.e., 6.9g per 100g)," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities. The vendors concerned have removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected batches of the products according to the instructions of the CFS. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS has also followed up with the trademark owner and vendor of the products concerned to trace the distribution of the affected products," he added.

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/Monday, February 29, 2016