Prepackaged granulated sugar sample not in compliance with nutrition label rule

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 13) announced that the energy content of a prepackaged granulated sugar 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: Suzuran White Beet Sugar
Place of origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co Ltd
Net weight: 500 grams
Best before date: November 23, 2019
 
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that the energy content of a granulated sugar sample taken from a supermarket in Causeway Bay was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another granulated sugar sample of the same kind but of a different batch taken from the same place for testing during follow-up investigation. The test result showed that there was a discrepancy between the actual energy content (399 kcal per 100g) and the declared content (282 kcal 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 CFS' instructions. 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/Wednesday, December 13, 2017