Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has released the results of a comprehensive safety and nutrient analysis of 46 types of canned fish popular among local consumers, highlighting striking variations in sodium content among seven sampled varieties of canned dace. The study, detailed in the latest issue of Choice magazine, found sodium levels in the fish portion of dace cans could differ by nearly double, raising significant health concerns, particularly regarding excessive salt intake, even as overall safety standards related to heavy metals largely met regulatory limits. One specific product, priced at HK$23.9, stood out for its superior performance in both safety and contaminant screening, achieving a coveted 5-star overall rating.
Safety and Nutritional Integrity of Canned Fish
The Consumer Council sourced 46 common canned fish products, including seven variants of Dace with Salted Black Beans, from supermarkets and department stores, spanning a price range of HK$15.9 to HK$23.9 per can. Researchers segregated the fish from the sauces and other ingredients to specifically assess the safety and nutritional profile of the fish component itself.
Safety parameters tested included comprehensive screenings for nine metallic contaminants—antimony, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, methylmercury, and tin—as well as prohibited food colorings and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Nutritional analysis covered energy metrics, protein, fat profiles (total, saturated, trans), beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, carbohydrates, sugar, sodium, and calcium.
Reassuringly, while trace amounts of metallic contaminants were detected across all dace samples, none exceeded existing regulatory maximum limits, with all samples earning excellent safety scores of 4 or 5 points. For instance, testing indicated that dioxin-like PCBs found in one sample, “Pearl River Bridge,” were only present in minute concentrations, deemed safe unless consumed in unusually large quantities over time.
The Problematic Variation in Sodium
The primary public health concern identified in the canned dace selection was the highly variable and often excessive sodium content. Due to the traditional preparation methods of preserved and fried dace, the average sodium level was the highest among all fish types tested.
Several brands—including Tin Lung, Eagle Coin, Pearl River Bridge, and Greatwall Brand—exceeded 1,000 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams of the fish component. This highlights a critical labeling issue, as the nutritional information on the packaging typically reflects the content of the entire product (fish, oil, and sauce).
The Council warned that consuming an entire can of the highest sodium product, Eagle Coin’s dace, could expose an adult to approximately 880 milligrams of sodium. This single consumption event significantly surpasses 40% of the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit for adult sodium intake and over half of the suggested daily intake for a seven-year-old child in China. Consumers are strongly advised to monitor their portion sizes meticulously to mitigate the risk of hypertension and other associated health problems.
Identifying the Best and Most Nutritious Options
Despite the sodium concerns, the test results revealed that canned dace offered superior levels of one key nutrient. Due to the high-pressure and high-temperature canning process, the bones soften substantially, making them edible and an excellent source of calcium.
Dace samples had the highest average calcium content among the canned fish category. The brand Gan Zhu Brand (甘竹牌) contained the most calcium, packing an impressive 910 milligrams per 100 grams of fish portion. For reference, a 7-year-old child consuming approximately two-thirds of this can (109 grams of the fish part) would achieve nearly their full daily recommended calcium intake.
In its overall assessment, which balanced safety, nutritional value, and contaminant risks, the Eagle Coin Gold Medal Dace with Salted Black Beans (priced at HK$23.9) received the highest overall 5-star rating, affirming its excellent performance across metallic and other pollutant screenings, despite its high sodium concentration.
The Consumer Council urges Hong Kong consumers to prioritize products bearing lower sodium levels and calculate their consumption based on the full nutritional information provided on the packaging, especially when integrating popular convenience items like canned dace into their regular diet.