Prepackaged butter roll sample not in compliance with nutrition label rules

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 19) announced that the sugar content of a prepackaged butter roll 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: President Unsalted French Butter Roll
Place of origin: France
Importer/distributor: Lactalis Hong Kong Limited
Net weight: 250 grams
Best-before date: December 17, 2016

"Subsequent to announcing that the sugar content of a prepackaged butter roll sample taken from a supermarket in Causeway Bay was found to be inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another sample of the same kind but of a different batch from the same supermarket during follow-up investigation. There was a discrepancy between the actual sugar content (0.9g per 100g) and the declared content (0.5g 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 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," 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/Monday, September 19, 2016