Preservative exceeds legal limit in two prepackaged date samples

Food name:
  1. 特級蜜棗 (Not available in English)
  2. Superior Candied Jujubes
Brand:
  1. 南北行 (Not available in English)
  2. ON KEE DRY SEAFOOD CO., LTD.
Net weight:
  1. 225 g
  2. 600 g
Place of Origin: China
Best before date:
  1. February 20, 2025
  2. May 23, 2024
Preservative: Sulphur dioxide
Detected level:
  1. 263 parts per million
  2. 140 parts per million
Maximum permitted level: 100 parts per million
Sampling location:
  1. An online vendor
  2. An online vendor

Remarks:

  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendors to stop selling the incriminated batches of the affected products.

  2. According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), any person who sells food with preservative above the legal limit may be prosecuted and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

  3. Based on the level of sulphur dioxide detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.

  4. The Centre for Food Safety will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the affected products.

  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Tuesday, August 29, 2023