Prepackaged chicken soup sample not in compliance with nutrition label rule

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 12) announced that the total fat content of a prepackaged chicken soup 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: Knorr Dense Soup Treasure - Clear Chicken Soup
Place of origin: China
Importer and Distributor: Unilever Hong Kong Limited
Net weight: Two cups per pack, 30 grams per cup
Best-before date: July 3, 2017

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a supermarket in Kowloon Tong for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that there was a discrepancy between the actual total fat content (4.2g per 100g) and the declared content (0.7g per 30g, i.e. 2.33g per 100g) on its nutrition label.

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor 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 them, they 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, January 12, 2017