Prepackaged lemon drop sample not in compliance with nutrition label rules

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 21) announced that the sodium content of a prepackaged lemon drop sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on the nutrition label. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Lemon Drops
Brand: Essential Everyday
Place of origin: US
Distributor: The Dairy Farm Company Limited
Net weight: 10 ounces/283 grams per pack
Best-before date: May 12, 2016

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned lemon drop sample from a supermarket in Sai Ying Pun under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The result of chemical analysis showed that it contained sodium at a level of 33 milligrams (mg) per 100g, which was inconsistent with its declared value (0mg per 14g)," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. The vendor concerned has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected batch of the product according to the instructions of the CFS. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS has also followed up with the distributor concerned to trace the distribution of the affected product," 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 case and take appropriate action.

Ends/Thursday, April 21, 2016