The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 24) said that three batches of prepacked preserved pomelo of different brands imported from Taiwan were found to be in breach of food labelling regulations for not declaring on their food labels the permitted sweeteners, saccharin and cyclamate, that they contained. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling the products concerned immediately.
Product details are as follows:
(1) Product name: Hua Qi Fang Traditional Style Herbal Throat Candy
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: Hua Qi Fang Company Limited
Distributor: B&S Company
Weight: 60 grams
Best before date: May 5, 2017
(2) Product name: Deluxe Ba Xian Guo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: "Lee Chin Li Food Company Limited" (translation)
Distributor: DFI Brands Limited
Weight: 60g
Best before date: October 31, 2016
(3) Product name: Aji Ichiban Yuzu Baxianguo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: "Ma Tzuann Nong Fang Company" (translation)
Distributor: Aji Ichiban Company Limited
Weight: 300g
Best before date: June 1, 2016
"In response to media reports earlier that certain kinds of preserved pomelo from Taiwan contained additives, the CFS enhanced surveillance on similar products and took the above-mentioned preserved pomelo samples from three different local retail outlets for testing. Results showed that all the samples contained permitted sweeteners for food use, namely saccharin and cyclamate, but they were not declared on the lists of ingredients on the samples' food labels," a CFS spokesman said.
"The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and found that they have stopped sale of the affected batches of the products. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be considered. The CFS has informed the distributors of the products concerned and is tracing the distribution of the affected products. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident and urge them to stop selling the products concerned. The Taiwan authorities will be notified," he added.
The spokesman urged the trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in the list of ingredients on the food labels. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the cases and take appropriate action.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201509/24/P201509240768.htm