Preservative exceeds legal limit in date sample

Food name: Date
Preservative: Sulphur dioxide
Detected level: 250 parts per million
Maximum permitted level: 100 parts per million
Sampling location: A market stall at Hung Hom
Remarks:
  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendor to stop selling the affected product.

  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 continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the affected product and taking sample for testing.
  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Tuesday, December 12, 2023