Preservative exceeds legal limit in prepackaged shrimp noodles sample

Food name:

HONGKONG SHRIMP FLAVOR NOODLE

Brand:

GOURMET ALLEY

Net weight:

454 grams

Place of origin:

Hong Kong

Best before date:

July 11, 2027

Preservative

Sulphur Dioxide

Detected level:

57 milligram per kilogram

Maximum permitted level:

20 milligram per kilogram

Sampling location:

A supermarket in Tsing Yi

Remarks:

  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendor to stop selling the incriminated batch of 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, risk assessment showed that adverse health effects are unlikely under usual consumption.  

  4. The Centre for Food Safety will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the affected product. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Tuesday, September 2, 2025