Monthly Report on Results of Compliance Test

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 October 2022)

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#
October 2022	40	13

* 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; 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: -)	No. of non-compliant samples received in October
October 2022	0	0

(III) Details of non-compliant samples

Details of non-compliant samples under Nutrition Labelling Scheme

No.	Month / Year	Nature / Name of sample *Remarks 1,2	Testing parameter	Declared value on nutrition label	Testing result(s)
1	October 2022	味付海苔 (17.6g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 62.9g/100g	Available Carbohydrates 35.9g/100g
1	October 2022	味付海苔 (17.6g)	Total Fat	Total Fat 1.8g/100g	Total Fat 3.1g/100g
2	October 2022	Bebe Organic Seaweed Laver (2g x 10)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 1g/2g (50g/100g)	Available Carbohydrates Not Detected
			Saturated Fatty Acids	Saturated Fatty Acids 0g/2g (0g/100g)	Saturated Fatty Acids 3.9g/100g
			Sodium	Sodium 10mg/2g (500mg/100g)	Sodium 1100mg/100g
3	October 2022	Yaki Sushi Nori Toasted Seaweed (28g)	Total Fat	Total Fat 0g/100g	Total Fat 3.3g/100g
4	October 2022	Organic Baby Seaweed (No Added Salt) (20g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 1g/2g (50g/100g)	Available Carbohydrates 19.6g/100g
			Saturated Fatty Acids	Saturated Fatty Acids 0g/2g (0g/100g)	Saturated Fatty Acids 2g/100g
			Sodium	Sodium 10mg/2g (500mg/100g)	Sodium 860mg/100g
5	October 2022	Roasted Nori Onigiri 1/3 Cut (19.6g)	Energy	Energy 193kcal/100g	Energy 316kcal/100g
5	October 2022	Roasted Nori Onigiri 1/3 Cut (19.6g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 33.2g/100g	Available Carbohydrates 15.8g/100g
6	October 2022	Grilled Seaweed Roll Tom Yum Goong Flavour (27g)	Total Fat	Total Fat 0g/3g (0/100g)	Total Fat 2.8g/100g
7	October 2022	High Quality Stone Seaweed (15g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 1.2g/5g (24g/100g)	Available Carbohydrates 5.6g/100g
8	October 2022	Olive Oil Seasoned Laver (20g)	Energy	Energy 15kcal/5g (300kcal/100g)	Energy 568kcal/100g
			Total Fat	Total Fat 1g/5g (20/100g)	Total Fat 54.7g/100g
			Saturated Fatty Acids	Saturated Fatty Acids 0g/5g (0g/100g)	Saturated Fatty Acids 7.6g/100g
9	October 2022	Seasoned Laver For Kids (6g x 9)	Total Fat	Total Fat 0g/6g (0g/100g)	Total Fat 2.8g/100g
10	October 2022	Mild Seasoned Laver (Suitable for 9 months or above) (20g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 0.62g/2g (31g/100g)	Available Carbohydrates 3.6g/100g
			Saturated Fatty Acids	Saturated Fatty Acids 0g/2g (0g/100g)	Saturated Fatty Acids 2.2g/100g
			Sodium	Sodium 14mg/2g (700mg/100g)	Sodium 1400mg/100g
11	October 2022	Dried Nori Seaweed (130g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 43.3g/100g	Available Carbohydrates 23.5g/100g
12	October 2022	Seasoned Seaweed - Original Flavor (42g)	Available Carbohydrates	Available Carbohydrates 17.2g/42g (40.95g/100g)	Available Carbohydrates 2.7g/100g
			Total Fat	Total Fat 0g/42g (0g/100g)	Total Fat 4.8g/100g
			Saturated Fatty Acids	Saturated Fatty Acids 0g/42g (0g/100g)	Saturated Fatty Acids 0.93g/100g
13	October 2022	Apple Crisps (50g)	Sodium	Sodium 19mg/100g	Sodium 64mg/100g

Remarks:

Results of Sample with Irregularity were issued for the non-compliant sample on 3.10.2022, 10.10.2022, 14.10.2022, 17.10.2022 and 20.10.2022.
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221003_9819.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221010_9834.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221010_9835.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221014_9846.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221014_9847.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221014_9848.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221014_9849.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221017_9851.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221017_9852.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221017_9853.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221017_9854.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221017_9855.html),
(https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/unsat_samples/20221020_9870.html).
After receiving unsatisfactory result, CFS staff informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale the affected batch of product. In addition, the CFS will notify the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.