Two imported fruit juices face labelling, contamination issues

Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has recently announced that a sample of prepackaged fruit juice was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in fruit juice, however the name of the additive was not declared on the food label. As a result, the public is advised not to consume the affected batch of product while the distributor is instructed to stop selling them.
The product is 1 litre Don Simon 100% Pressed Peach & Grape Juice which originated from Spain. A CFS spokesperson said, “The CFS collected the abovementioned sample from a supermarket in North Point for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide and although it is below the maximum permitted level, the functional class and name of such additive were not declared on the food label of the sample.”
The distributor has initiated a recall while the CFS is also tracing the source of the affected product.
Sulphur dioxide is a preservative of low toxicity used in a variety of foods including fruit juice, dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. Tuse 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 HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and 6 months’ jail if convicted.
In the same period, CFS has also identified a sample of bottled fruit juice drink imported from Australia to be contaminated with a mycotoxin, patulin at a level exceeding the maximum permitted by CFS. “The test result showed that the sample contained patulin at a level of 260 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the action level of 50 ppb adopted by the CFS. The level is the same as the standard of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on patulin in apple or apple juice,” said a CFS spokesman.
The product is a 1.5 litre bottle Pure Tassie Organic Apple & Blackcurrant juice drink and the distributor has stopped selling the product an initiated a recall of the batch affected.
A CFS spokesperson said, “Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies showed that ingesting high doses of patulin can induce liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. For humans it can cause nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting.” Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and 6 months’ jail if convicted.
Meanwhile, Singapore Food Agency has also demanded a recall of the same batch of Australian juice product due to the excessive patulin content.