Preservative exceeds legal limit in pickled vegetable sample

Food name:

 Pickled vegetable

Preservative:

 Sulphur dioxide

Detected level:

 1000 parts per million

Maximum permitted level:

 500 parts per million

Sampling location:

 A retail shop in Tseung Kwan O

Remarks:
  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendor to stop selling the affected product.
  2. According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), any person who sells food with preservative above the legal limit may be prosecuted and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.
  3. Based on the level of sulphur dioxide detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.
  4. The Centre for Food Safety will continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the food in question and taking sample for testing.  
  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Tuesday, May 23, 2023