Anne Fung Yu-Kei (left), Principal Medical Officer for the Centre of Food Safety and Ambrose Ho, Chairman of the Publicity & Community Relations Committee of the Consumer Council show some instant noodles that have an abnormally high sodium content at a press conference yesterday. EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY

Consumer Council cites collagen supplements and instant noodles

Many advertisers have paraded collagen supplements as the most magical and effective agents to prevent skin aging. Yesterday, Hong Kong's Consumer Council questioned this claim.

As a fibrous protein with good tensile strength, when applied to the dermis, collagen can maintain the skin's smoothness. However, there is no significant scientific proof that the oral intake of collagen (e.g., ready-to-drink liquids, pills and power) can actually treat facial skin dryness, tension or wrinkles. In fact, advertisers' claims that such oral collagen supplements work have yet to be endorsed, announced Ambrose Ho, chairman of the publicity and community relations committee of the Consumer Council, after he had consulted with various experts.

Experts deny claims that collagen can be absorbed by the facial skin. In fact, adequate nutrition, physical exercise and stable hormonal conditions are all known to contribute to the preservation of collagen in the human body.

For people who do not lack the proteins, the deliberate intake of supplementary proteins, peptides or amino acids can have an adverse effect on the body and disrupt its ability to produce the naturally occurring proteins, explained Juliana Chan, Professor of medicine and therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

There are now more than 20 types of collagen supplements at various prices available on the Hong Kong market. A shop's recommended three-month dosage can cost a consumer anywhere from HK$200 to HK$3,500.

The Consumer Council received a complaint from a consumer who said that after using collagen supplements for two months, he/she noticed a loss of facial moisture instead of the skin quality improvement promised by the product.

Tasty noodles, high sodium

The Consumer Council is also concerned with Hong Kong people's taste for instant noodles, given that many sold in the city have an abnormally high sodium content.

According to Anne Fung Yu-kei, Principal Medical Officer for the Centre of Food Safety, a study on the sodium and fat contents of 48 instant noodle products sold in Hong Kong found that 13 of them contained sodium in excess of the international daily intake limit. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations suggest that the daily sodium intake should be less than 2,000 mgs, about one teaspoon of salt.

Shockingly, of the instant noodles checked, one contained an astonishing 4,350 mg sodium content, more than twice the daily limit recommended.

"The non-fried instant noodles usually have less fat, but may also contain a lot of sodium," Fung alerts.

Many people in Hong Kong eat instant noodles because they have a hectic schedule, so the food is convenient as a quick lunch or later supper. Since eating noodles is part of the Hong Kong culture, Fung suggests that consumers read the nutrition labels on the packages before they buy them. Additionally, when they open the seasoning and sauce packets that often come inside the noodle packs, people can try to use less than their full amounts. This will minimize the sodium intake since much of it is in those seasoning packs. Also, adding lots of water to the noodles helps dilute the sodium concentration.

Mobile broadband could disappoint

New mobile broadband service plans for computers might fall short of users' expectations, the Consumer Council has warned.

Although they claim that their mobile broadband service is unlimited and very high speed, the service providers can terminate the service, charge more for use, or restrict broadband speed when users download or upload data, depending on size, quantity or frequency. They cite their right to impose such restrictions, based on a "fair usage policy", which customers may not be aware of.

Moreover, the actual service speed may not compare to the speed advertised, given many factors, such as weak signals and peak hours of network use.

(HK Edition 03/16/2010 page1)