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 (December 7) announced that the nutrient contents of a prepackaged fish, cuttlefish and octopus ball sample and a gummy candy sample were found to be inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. Follow-up is in progress.

Product details are as follows:

(1) Product name: Select Fish, Cuttlefish & Octopus Balls
Place of origin: Taiwan
Distributor: A.S. Watson Group (HK) Limited
Net weight: 300 grams per pack
Best-before date: February 24, 2017

(2) Product name: Gummi Bears
Brand name: Essential Everyday
Place of origin: USA
Distributor: The Dairy Farm Company Limited
Net weight: 14 ounces/396 grams per pack
Best-before date: March 28, 2017

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples of fish, cuttlefish and octopus ball and gummy candy from two supermarkets respectively in Tai Kok Tsui and Sai Ying Pun for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The results of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the actual saturated fatty acids content (4.2g per 100g) in the fish, cuttlefish and octopus ball sample and the declared content on its nutrition label (2.2g per 100g). As for the gummy candy sample, its actual sodium content (88mg per 100g) does not tally with the declared content on its nutrition label (15mg per 39g, i.e. about 38.5mg per 100g)," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and the vendors have stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batches of the products according to CFS' instructions. The CFS is tracing the sources and distribution of the affected products," he said.

According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), if any person falsely describes 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/Wednesday, December 7, 2016