The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) discovered two types of prepacked plum products sold locally that contained excessive amounts of preservative sorbic acid and sweetener aspartame respectively through the bureau’s routine food sample testing, according to an IAM statement yesterday.
The prepacked plums, Pitted Dried Prunes, were found to contain excessive amounts of preservative sorbic acid manufactured by “Mariani”, with an expiration date of May next year and a weight of 18 ounces (about 510 grammes), the statement said.
The statement pointed out that the problematic Pitted Dried Prunes packet was found to contain 652 mg of sorbic acid per kilogramme.
The other problematic product, Seedless Plums, branded as “Ms. Plum” manufactured in Taiwan, was found to contain 14,400 mg of sweetener aspartame per kilogramme, with a weight of 30 grammes and an expiration date of February 16 next year.
The bureau has ordered shops to stop selling the problematic products, and it urged consumers not to eat them, the statement said, which did not elaborate on the health standards involved.
The statement pointed out that the levels of sorbic acid and aspartame detected in the two products were analysed to be generally unlikely to cause adverse health effects under normal consumption conditions.
IAM reminded traders to source food only from reliable suppliers and not to purchase and sell food if they have doubts about its hygiene and safety, while for consumers, the statement urged them to maintain a balanced diet to avoid excessive intake of a particular substance.
This undated handout photo shows the “Mariani” Pitted Dried Prunes product that was found by the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) to contain preservative sorbic acid.
– Photo: IAM
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the prepacked “Ms. Plum” Seedless Plum containing excessive amounts of sweetener aspartame.
