Make Better Choices Use Nutrition Labels

Monthly Report on Results of Compliance Test
for Nutrition Labelling and Declaration of Allergens
under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations

(for the month of January 2019)

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (the Regulations) require all applicable prepackaged foods to list out the ingredients, the content of energy plus seven core nutrients, namely, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars (commonly known as “1 + 7”), and regulate any associated nutrition claims. The ingredients to be listed include, among others, any of the substances specified in section 2(4E) of Schedule 3 to the Regulations which are known to cause allergy in some individuals, if present.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has been testing, among other things, nutrients and allergens in prepackaged food samples for compliance under the Regulations. Results of compliance test since January 2012 have been published on the CFS website in the form of monthly reports, which include details of the food samples with discrepancies between labelled and tested nutrient values. Results of those food samples with food allergens detected but undeclared are also published from 1 April 2012 onwards.

(I) Nutrition Labelling

Compliance Test Results* under Nutrition Labelling Scheme

Month / Year No. of food samples tested No. of non-compliant samples#
January 2019 40 11

*Tests may cover "1+7" or any combination of these core nutrients.
# One or more discrepancies between the declared nutrient values and test results were detected.

Details of non-compliant samples

Month Nature / Name of sample Testing parameter Declared value on nutrition label Testing result(s)
January
2019		 1. Bonvitas Goat's Milk Beverage Powder (400g) Protein

Protein
8.8g/100g

Protein
4.2g/100g
Dietary Fibre

Dietary Fibre
3.4g/100g

Dietary Fibre
Not detected
Calcium

Calcium
558mg/100g

Calcium
130mg/100g
Iron

Iron
0.53mg/100g

Iron
0.1mg/100g
Phosphorus

Phosphorus
762mg/100g

Phosphorus
190mg/100g
Magnesium

Magnesium
97mg/100g

Magnesium
16mg/100g
Copper

Copper
0.037mg/100g

Copper
Not detected
Zinc

Zinc
3mg/100g

Zinc
0.45mg/100g
Manganese

Manganese
0.051mg/100g

Manganese
8ug/100g
(i.e. 0.008mg/100g)
Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1
34.3mg/100g

Vitamin B1
Not detected
Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2
2.3mg/100g

Vitamin B2
82ug/100g
(i.e. 0.082mg/100g)
Folic Acid

Folic Acid
24.2mg/100g

Folic Acid
Not detected
January
2019		 2. Orihiro Konnyaku Jelly Standing Litchi (130g) Sugars

Sugars
0g/130g
 (i.e. 0g/100g)

Sugars
5.8g/100g
January
2019		 3. Supreme Savor (Butter Cookies (8pcs) + Oat & Cranberries Cookies (8pcs)) Sodium

Sodium
75mg/100g

 

Sodium
160mg/100g
January
2019		 4. Crostini Classic Cranberry Hazelnut Cookies (227g)
Sodium

Sodium
19mg/100g

Sodium
29mg/100g
January
2019		 5. LU Sweet Dry Biscuit – Palmito
(100g)
Sodium

Sodium
378mg/100g

Sodium
570mg/100g
January
2019		 6. Jenny Bakery Butter Flower Cookies
(640g)
Trans Fatty Acids

Trans Fatty Acids
0.8g/100g

Trans Fatty Acids
1.6g/100g
January
2019		 7. 泰昌蝴蝶酥
(120克)
Trans Fatty Acids

Trans Fatty Acids
0g /100g

Trans Fatty Acids
0.66g /100g
January
2019		 8. Ceres 100% Juice Blend Pineapple (1L)
Energy

Energy
48kJ/100mL

Energy
222kJ/100mL
January
2019		 9. Nissin Luxury Tantan Cup Noodle (78g)
Saturated fatty acids

Saturated fatty acids
3.5g/78g
(i.e. 4.487g/100g)

Saturated fatty acids
9.2g /100g
January
2019		 10. Casino Lobster Bisque (400g) Total Fat

Total Fat
1.6g/100g

Total Fat
5.3g/100g
Saturated fatty acids

Saturated fatty acids
0.1g/100g

Saturated fatty acids
0.84g/100g
January
2019		 11. 印尼鹹香花生 (150g) Sodium

Sodium
0mg/100g

Sodium
590mg/100g

Tolerance Limits for Declaration of Energy Level or Nutrient Content on Nutrition Label

Energy/Nutrients Tolerance Limits
Energy, Total fat, Saturated fatty acids, Trans fatty acids, Cholesterol, Sodium, Sugars ≤ 120% declared value
Protein, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Monounsaturated fatty acids, Carbohydrates, Starch, Dietary fibre, Soluble fibre, Insoluble fibre, individual component of fibre ≥ 80% declared value
Vitamins and minerals (other than Vitamin A, Vitamin D and added vitamins and minerals) ≥ 80% declared value
Vitamin A and Vitamin D (including added ones) 80% - 180% declared value
Added vitamins and minerals (other than Vitamin A and Vitamin D) ≥ declared value

Source: Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims (see table 3)
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/food_leg/files/nl_technical_guidance_e.pdf

(II) Declaration of Food Allergens

The Regulations require declaration of any of the eight types of substances which are known to cause allergy in some individuals, if present, in the list of ingredients of pre-packaged food. These substances are: cereals containing gluten; crustacean and crustacean products; eggs and egg products; fish and fish products; peanuts, soyabeans and their products; milk and milk products (lactose included); tree nuts and nut products; and sulphite in concentrations of 10 parts per million or more.

Compliance Test Results for Food Allergens

Month / Year

No. of food samples tested
(Testing parameter: - )

 No. of non-compliant samples received in January
January 2019 0 0