Some juices sold in Hong Kong contain toxins found in decaying fruits, tests show
Tests on 40 juices reveal some drinks contain the toxin patulin, ingredients not found on labels and high amounts of sugar
Fruit juices sold in Hong Kong contain toxins, preservatives and high levels of sugar, and are often less nutritious than their labels claim, the city’s consumer watchdog said on Monday.
And the Consumer Council urged the public to “never” use fruit juice as a substitute for eating whole fruits, after the tests which resulted in some brands being pulled from store shelves.
The council tested 40 juices found at different stores in the city.
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One apple juice, and one apple and strawberry blended juice from Australian manufacturer Preshafruit, were found to contain the fungal toxin patulin at levels of 67 and 138 micrograms per kilogram respectively.
The level of patulin, commonly found in decaying fruits and vegetables, exceeded the government guideline limit of 50 micrograms for every kilogram.
Patulin can hurt the immune system, damage nerves and stunt growth in infants, according to a study by the UN and the World Health Organisation.
“In these two cases, both products have been removed from the shelves,” Hui said.