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 (August 9) announced that the nutrient contents of a bottled dressing sample and a prepackaged butter roll sample were found to be inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

Product details are as follows:

(1) Product name: Red Kellys Tasmania Aromatic Lemon Myrtle Dressing
Place of origin: Australia
Manufacturer: Red Kellys Tasmania
Volume: 250 millilitres per bottle
Best-before date: June 16, 2017

(2) Product name: President Unsalted French Butter Roll
Place of origin: France
Importer/distributor: Lactalis Hong Kong Limited
Net weight: 250 grams
Best-before date: October 8, 2016

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned dressing sample and butter roll sample from two supermarkets in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay respectively for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The result of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the dressing sample's actual sodium content (160mg per 100ml) and the declared content (78mg per 100ml) on its nutrition label while that of the butter roll sample showed a discrepancy between its actual sugar content (1g per 100g) and the declared content (0.5g per 100g) on its nutrition label," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and the vendors concerned have removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected batches of the products according to the instructions of the CFS. The CFS is tracing 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/Tuesday, August 9, 2016