The Customs and Excise Department seized 728 bottles of cooking oil (including 444 two-litre bottles and 284 0.9-litre bottles) bearing suspected false trade descriptions in a series of raids on two wholesalers, three importers and 25 retail shops conducted over the past two weeks. The total seizure amounted to $37,000. In the operation, one set of bottling apparatus and some packaging materials were also seized from one of the wholesalers. Two men were arrested for further investigation.
The department had earlier purchased 58 samples of cooking oils from the retail market for examination by the Government Laboratory. Analysis results showed that a sample of "Gourmet's Kitchen" pure corn oil and a sample of "Dor Po Brand" pure peanut oil are not "pure" as claimed. The seized "Gourmet's Kitchen" pure corn oil is all soybean oil, and the seized "Dor Po Brand" pure peanut oil bearing the best consumption dates before 30.12.2009 and 30.12.2011 was found to contain about 50% soybean oil.
Principal Trade Controls Officer of Customs Trade Descriptions and Transhipment Controls Bureau, Mr Marcus Lau, said today (September 25) that peanut oil, corn oil and soybean oil were all vegetable oils suitable for cooking. However, as soybean oil would emit raw bean odour after oxidation, it was not considered ideal for cooking food which was not intended for instant consumption. Hence, it was not used by many households for domestic cooking and therefore not popular in the retail market.
He said that as no harmful substances were found in these adulterated oils, their consumption should not pose any hazard to health.
As the supply of soybean oil was more stable and its import price was 30% lower than that of peanut oil and corn oil, Mr Lau noted that unscrupulous traders might resort to adulteration, or even substitution, for a higher profit.
"Since Customs has already cracked down on the suppliers of the adulterated cooking oils and seized the oils from the retailers concerned, the risk of consumers being further exposed to these products has been much reduced," he added.
He reminded traders that supplying goods of a false trade description was a serious offence under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Any person convicted of the offence is liable to a maximum penalty of a $500,000 fine and five years' imprisonment.
He also appealed to members of the public to report any suspected violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance through the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, September 25, 2009
