Vegetarian "meat" might not be as healthy and
nutritious as manufacturers claim, with one sample even found to
contain animal genes, the consumer watchdog warned yesterday.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council has strong guidance principles by
which it has examined 35 samples of pre-packaged vegetarian meat,
saying all failed to fully comply with the technical guidance of
the Centre for Food Safety requirements on nutrition labelling.
Releasing the findings, the watchdog said four samples found to
contain either animal genes or animal-derived ingredients were
inaccurately labelled.
Fish and pig genes were detected in vegetarian fishballs sold
under the Saturday brand, said to be from Taiwan, despite the
product being labelled as "ovo-lacto" – containing
dairy and egg ingredients. Three other products, which claimed to
be "lacto" – with dairy elements – also
contained traces of egg.
