Prepackaged salt sample not in compliance with nutrition label rule

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 7) announced that the sodium content of a prepackaged salt 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: Himalayan Rock Salt (Fine)
Brand: Nature Quest
Place of origin: Pakistan
Distributor: Cosway (HK) Limited
Net weight: 500 grams
Best-before date: October 2, 2020

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that the sodium content of a salt sample taken from a retail outlet of the distributor in Wong Tai Sin was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another salt sample of the same kind but of a different batch taken from the same retail outlet for testing during follow-up investigations. The test result showed that there was a discrepancy between the actual sodium content (38 000mg per 100g) and the declared content (18 000mg per 100g) on its nutrition label.

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. The vendor concerned has voluntarily stopped sale and removed from shelves all batches of the concerned product earlier. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted."

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 or her, he or she shall be guilty of an offence and 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, December 7, 2017