Make Better Choices Use Nutrition Labels

Monthly Report on Results of Compliance Test
for Nutrition Labelling and Declaration of Allergens
under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations

( for the month of April 2014 )

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (the Regulations) require all applicable prepackaged foods to list out the ingredients, the content of energy plus seven core nutrients, namely, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars (commonly known as "1 + 7"), and regulate any associated nutrition claims. The ingredients to be listed include, among others, any of the substances specified in section 2(4E) of Schedule 3 to the Regulations which are known to cause allergy in some individuals, if present.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has been testing, among other things, nutrients and allergens in prepackaged food samples for compliance under the Regulations. Results of compliance test since January 2012 have been published on the CFS website in the form of monthly reports, which include details of the food samples with discrepancies between labelled and tested nutrient values. Results of those food samples with food allergens detected but undeclared are also published from 1 April 2012 onwards.

(I) Nutrition Labelling

Compliance Test Result* under Nutrition Labelling Scheme

Month / Year No. of food samples tested No. of non-compliant samples#
April 2014 40 -

*Tests may cover "1+7" or any combination of these core nutrients.
# One or more discrepancies between the declared nutrient values and test results were detected.

Tolerance Limits for Declaration of Energy Level or Nutrient Content on Nutrition Label

Energy/Nutrients Tolerance Limits
Energy, Total fat, Saturated fatty acids, Trans fatty acids, Cholesterol, Sodium, Sugars ≤ 120% declared value
Protein, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Monounsaturated fatty acids, Carbohydrates, Starch, Dietary fibre, Soluble fibre, Insoluble fibre, individual component of fibre ≥ 80% declared value
Vitamins and minerals (other than Vitamin A, Vitamin D and added vitamins and minerals) ≥ 80% declared value
Vitamin A and Vitamin D (including added ones) 80% - 180% declared value
Added vitamins and minerals (other than Vitamin A and Vitamin D) ≥ declared value

Source: Technical Guidance Notes on Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claims (see table 3)
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/food_leg/files/nl_technical_guidance_e.pdf

(II) Declaration of Food Allergens

The Regulations require declaration of any of the eight types of substances which are known to cause allergy in some individuals, if present, in the list of ingredients of pre-packaged food. These substances are: cereals containing gluten; crustacea and crustacean products; eggs and egg products; fish and fish products; peanuts, soyabeans and their products; milk and milk products (lactose included); tree nuts and nut products; and sulphite in concentrations of 10 parts per million or more.

Compliance Test Results for Food Allergens

Month / Year No. of food samples tested
(Testing parameter: Milk and Peanut)
No. of non-compliant samples received in April
April 2014 11 1

Details of non-compliant samples

Month
Nature / Name of sample
Testing parameter
Testing result(s)
April
Cracker /
"HAITAI" EDO pack Almond Cracker
133g (22.1 grams x 6 packs)
Peanut
The food sample was found containing peanut, a food allergen, which was not listed on its food label.

Remarks :

  1. Food Allergen Alert ( http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/2014_63.html ), trade alert and press release ( http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/2014_04_25_1_e.html ) were issued for the non-compliant sample on 25.4.2014.
  2. The CFS has informed the concerned distributor and retail shops, and alerted the trade to stop selling the product concerned.