Trans-fat labelling information on prepackaged foods and beverages sold in Hong Kong in 2019

Objective:To examine the labelling status of trans-fat of pre-packaged foods sold in Hong Kong. Design:Data from 19 027 items in the 2019 FoodSwitch Hong Kong database were used. Ingredient lists were screened to identify specific (e.g. partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, PHVO) and non-specific trans-fat ingredient indicators (e.g. hydrogenated oil). Trans-fat content was obtained from the on-pack nutrition labels, which was converted into proportion of total fat (%(total fat)). Descriptive statistics were calculated for trans-fat content and the number of specific, non-specific and total trans-fat ingredients indicators found on the ingredients lists. Comparisons were made between regions using one-way ANOVA and chi(2) for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Setting:Cross-sectional audit. Participants:Not applicable. Results:A total of 729 items (3 center dot 8 % of all products) reported to contain industrially produced trans-fat, with a median of 0 center dot 4 g/100 g or 100 ml (interquartile range (IQR): 0 center dot 1-0 center dot 6) and 1 center dot 2 %(totalfat) (IQR: 0 center dot 6-2 center dot 9). 'Bread and bakery products' had the highest proportion of items with industrially produced trans-fat (18 center dot 9 %). 'Non-alcoholic beverages' had the highest proportion of products of 'false negatives' labelling (e.g. labelled as 0 trans-fat but contains PHVO; 59 center dot 3 %). The majority of products with trans-fat indicator originated from Asia (70 %). Conclusions:According to the labelling similar to 4 % of pre-packaged food and beverages sold in Hong Kong in 2019 contained industrially produced trans-fat, and a third of these had trans-fat >2 %(total fat). The ambiguous trans-fat labelling in Hong Kong may not effectively assist consumers in identifying products free from industrially produced trans-fat.