The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 22) announced that the sodium content of a bottled syrup sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared content on its nutrition label. The CFS urged the trade to stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Pure Cooking Syrup
Brand name: CJ
Place of origin: Korea
Manufacturer: CJ CheilJedang Corp
Sole agent: Kwong Tai Agency Co Ltd
Net weight: 700 grams
Best-before date: December 11, 2018

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a supermarket in Lai Chi Kok for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that there was a discrepancy between the actual sodium content (26mg per 100g) and the declared content (10mg per 100g) on its nutrition label."

     He added, "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product according to the instructions of the CFS. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS is also tracing the distribution of the affected product."

     According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), if any person falsely describes 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, May 22, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:30

NNNN