Four things to note in your 2019 diet – according to a year of findings from Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog
- Tests done throughout the year raise questions about honey products and health food such as tofu including red flags in margarine and bakery items
Food concerns took centre stage in studies carried out by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog in 2018, with the alarm sounded over harmful substances people may be filling their bellies with.
According to the Consumer Council, some honey and tofu were found to be not as healthy as previously thought, while trends uncovered in some highly sought-after bakery products sparked advice to people to vary their choices.
Here are some questions raised, which may influence your diet decisions in the year ahead:
1. Is honey really honey?
The council tested 35 honey products and 10 manuka honey samples, reporting in July that Natural Bee Honey, produced by Hero, contained up to eight antibiotics including a cancer-causing substance called metronidazole.
At the time, an agent for the company told the council that the products had been taken off shelves in June and it was investigating the matter.
Another product, Natural Honey, made by Ta Miaw Ko in Taiwan, was also found to contain two antibiotics, with one that could harm male fertility. The company did not respond to the council regarding the results.