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 September 2024)
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 received in September # |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 40 | 3 |
*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.
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: Crustacea) |
No. of non-compliant samples received in September |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 10 | 1 |
(III) Details of non-compliant samples
| No.
|
Month / Year |
Nature / Name of sample *Remarks 1,2 |
Non-compliant test parameters |
Declared value on food label |
Testing result(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2024 |
Instant Baby Congee – Spinach & Milk Fish (150g x 2 pcs) |
Sodium |
27mg/150g |
30mg/100g |
| 2 | September 2024 |
Tabasco Pepper Sauce |
Sulphur dioxide |
Not declared on the product's food label that contain sulphur dioxide |
12mg/kg |
| 3 | September 2024 |
Instant Baby Congee – Spinach & Milk Fish (150g x 2 pcs) |
Sodium |
27mg/150g |
28mg/100g |
| 4 | September 2024 |
759 Store Pork Cabbage Dumplings |
Saturated fatty acids |
1.2g/100g |
2.4g/100g |
Remarks:
-
Press Release, Rapid Alert and Results of Sample with Irregularity were issued for the non-compliant sample on 3.9.2024, 13.9.2024, 19.9.2024 and 30.9.2024.
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20240903_11124.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20240913_11148.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20240919_11155.html),(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20240930_11167.html). -
After receiving unsatisfactory result, CFS staff informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale the affected batch of product. In addition, the CFS will notify the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.