Too salty, too sweet: Hong Kong consumer watchdog warns of excessive sodium and sugar in oyster sauce

The city’s consumer watchdog cautioned Hongkongers against using excessive amounts of oyster sauce which was found to contain “generally high” levels of sodium and sugar.

One teaspoon of Fuji oyster sauce, a Japanese brand, already equals half the recommended sodium intake per meal by the World Health Organisation.

The Fuji oyster sauce topped the charts amongst 15 samples of oyster sauce, with 5,100 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams – roughly equivalent to 306mg of sodium for every teaspoon.

Consuming more than two teaspoons, an easy feat for dishes in Chinese cuisine that rely on condiment seasoning, would exceed the WHO’s recommended intake of 667mg of sodium per meal.

Fuji Foods Corporation, which produces the Fuji oyster sauce, was not immediately available for comment.

According to the WHO, elevated salt intake can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adults.

Hongkongers have a daily intake of 10 grams of salt, five times WHO’s maximum recommended limit, according to the Centre for Food Safety.