Prepackaged candy sample not in compliance with nutrition label rule

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 10) announced that the sodium content of a prepackaged candy sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared content on its nutrition label. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Sugus Assorted Fruit Flavour Chews
Place of origin: Thailand
Manufacturer: Rubia Industries Ltd
Net weight: 175 grams per pack
Best-before date: January 18, 2018

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS has previously announced that the sodium content of a prepackaged candy sample taken from a supermarket in Central and Western District was found to be inconsistent with the declared content on its nutrition label. In its follow-up investigation, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another sample of the same kind but of a different batch collected from another supermarket in the same district. The test result showed that there was a discrepancy between the actual sodium content (41mg per 100g) and the declared content (0mg per 25g, i.e. about 0mg per 100g) on its nutrition label.

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product according to the instructions of the CFS. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS is also tracing 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 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/Tuesday, January 10, 2017