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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 28) announced that the total fat content of a prepackaged cooked glutinous brown rice sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label. The CFS is following up on the case.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Ottogi Cooked Glutinous Brown Rice
Place of origin: Korea
Manufacturer: Ottogi Corporation-Korea
Hong Kong agent: Goldtop Century Limited
Net weight: 210 grams per pack
Best-before date: February 12, 2016
"The above-mentioned sample was taken from a supermarket in Tai Kok Tsui for testing under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. The result of the chemical analysis showed that the sample contained total fat at a level of 1.1g per 100g, which was not consistent with the declared content of 1g per 210g (i.e. 0.5g per 100g) on its nutrition label," a spokesman for the CFS said.
According to the CFS' Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims, the tolerance limit for total fat content is set at the level of not more than 120 per cent of the labelled value.
"The CFS has informed the retailer concerned of the irregularity. The retailer concerned has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected batch of the product according to the instructions of the CFS. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS has also followed up with the Hong Kong agent concerned to trace the distribution of the affected product," he added.
The spokesman urged the trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations. According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), if any person falsely describes a food or misleads as to the nature, substance or quality of the food on a label of the food sold by him, he shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.
The CFS will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action.
Ends/Monday, December 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:54
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