Sample of bottled plum sauce imported from Thailand in breach of food labelling regulations

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 16) announced that a kind of bottled plum sauce imported from Thailand has been found to contain a preservative, sulphur dioxide, that was not declared on the product's food label, in breach of the food labelling regulations. Follow-up is in progress.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Mekhala all natural plum sauce·dressing·dip
Place of origin: Thailand
Manufacturer: Mekhala Living (Thailand) Co Ltd
Packaging: 250 millilitres per bottle
Best-before date: May 30, 2019

"The CFS took the above-mentioned sample from a shop in Central for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide undeclared on its food label. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product," a CFS spokesman said.

The spokesman pointed out that although the level of sulphur dioxide contained (121 parts per million) in the above-mentioned sample is within the legal limit, susceptible individuals who are allergic to sulphur dioxide may experience breathing difficulties, headache and nausea if they consume this kind of food.

The spokesman urged the trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that the food ingredients of all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should be listed out in the list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

The CFS will notify the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Thursday, August 16, 2018