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 March 2020)

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 Results* under Nutrition Labelling Scheme

Month / Year No. of food samples tested No. of non-compliant samples#
March 2020 40 3

*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.

Details of non-compliant samples

Month

Nature / Name of sample *Remarks 1,2

Testing parameter

Declared value on nutrition label

Testing result(s)

March 2020

Seeberger Dried Figs(200g)

Sodium

Sodium
44mg/100g

Sodium
180mg/100g

March 2020 安記頂級澳洲鮑魚
(425g)
Sodium Sodium
370mg/100g
Sodium
670mg/100g
March 2020 Hung Yi Almond Meal
(300g)
Energy Energy
120kcal/100g
Energy
367kcal/100g

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; crustacean 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: Soybean)

No. of non-compliant samples received in March
March 2020 10 0

Remarks:

  1. Results of Sample with Irregularity were issued for the non-compliant sample on 19.3.2020 and 26.3.2020.
    (https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20200319_7869.html),
    (https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20200319_7870.html),
    (https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20200326_7877.html).

  2. After receiving unsatisfactory result, CFS staff informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of product. In addition, the CFS is tracing the source of the affected product, and will notify the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.