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 22) announced that the nutrient contents of a bottled dressing sample and a tinned infant formula 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: March 16, 2018

(2) Product name: Bibere Gold Infant Formula 1
Place of origin: New Zealand
Manufacturer: Alpha Laboratories (NZ) Limited
Net weight: 900 grams per tin
Best before date: November 2, 2017

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing a sample of the above-mentioned dressing detected with a discrepancy between its actual sodium content and the declared content on its nutrition label earlier, a sample of the same kind but of a different batch was collected from the same supermarket in Tsim Sha Tsui for testing. The result of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the dressing sample's actual sodium content (130mg per 100ml) and the declared content (78mg per 100ml) on its nutrition label.

"Furthermore, the CFS collected the above-mentioned infant formula sample from a retail outlet in Kowloon City for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The result of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between its actual vitamin E content (6.5mg α-TE per 100g) and the declared content (10.8mg α-TE per 100g) on its nutrition label.

"The CFS has informed the vendor that sold the bottled dressing of the irregularity and the vendor concerned has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected batch of the product according to the instructions of the CFS. The CFS is tracing the source and distribution of the affected product. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. Regarding the subject infant formula, CFS staff have inspected local major retail outlets and found no affected product on sale so far. The CFS will alert the local trade of the incident and urge them to stop selling the product concerned immediately."

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 continue to follow up on the cases and take appropriate action.

Ends/Monday, August 22, 2016