The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 20) announced that the niacin content of a tinned follow-up formula sample was found to be inconsistent with the declared value 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: Similac follow-up formula 2
Place of origin: Ireland
Manufacturer: Abbott Ireland
Importer: Abbott Laboratories Limited
Net weight: 400 grams per tin
Best-before date: March 11, 2018

     "The CFS collected the above formula sample from a retail outlet in Causeway Bay for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The result of chemical analysis showed a discrepancy between the actual niacin content (1.3mg per 100g) and the declared content (3.8mg per 100g) on its nutrition label," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product according to the CFS' instructions. The CFS is tracing the distribution of the affected product," he added.

     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/Friday, October 20, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:52

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