Prepackaged wheat starch sample in breach of food labelling regulation

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 12) that a sample of prepackaged wheat starch was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in certain foods, but the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Wheat Starch

Brand: Lee Cheung Woo

Place of origin: Australia

Net weight: 600 grams

Best-before date: December 21, 2025

Sole agent: Shun Fat Ma Kee

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a retail outlet in Sha Tin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level detected is within the legal limit, the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The CFS has informed the sole agent concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The sole agent concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 3422 3698 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," the spokesman added.

Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-generated images

DH holds Training Workshop on Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Intervention 2024

The two-day Training Workshop on Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Intervention 2024 organised by the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) was concluded today (September 13). A total of 150 healthcare professionals from Hong Kong, the Mainland and Macao attended the training workshop, which aimed at enhancing healthcare professionals' skills in providing smoking cessation services.

To strengthen knowledge exchanges on tobacco control and share local experiences in cessation service provision among local, Mainland and Macao healthcare professionals, TACO extended invitations to healthcare professionals from the Mainland and Macao to participate in this year's workshop. Among the 150 healthcare professionals participating in the workshop, 33 were from the Mainland and Macao, and 23 of them were recommended by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province.

The training content this year spanned smoking cessation counselling, prevention of relapse, treatment of tobacco dependence, motivational interviewing in smoking cessation, case sharing of smoking cessation, and pharmacotherapy, providing healthcare professionals with knowledge and skills in different smoking cessation interventions, which prepared them to help smokers quit smoking by various channels.

The DH has become a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services after it was designated by the World Health Organization to establish the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in April 2012. In addition to the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, TACO also regularly holds smoking cessation treatment training courses to enhance the capability of local healthcare professionals to provide smoking cessation support.

TACO will further strengthen collaboration and communication with the Mainland in tobacco control, and it is committed to providing continued support in cessation training and assistance, as well as jointly promoting the construction of a smoke-free Greater Bay Area.

DH holds Training Workshop on Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Intervention 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases