 |  |
|
MELAMINE is the latest catchword to have gripped Singaporeans this past week, and with SMS warnings and rumours flying willy-nilly, the authorities are calling for calm.
Yesterday evening, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority held a hastily-called press conference, asking Singaporeans not to be unduly concerned over tainted China-made dairy products discovered here.
At the 90-minute conference, officials tried their best to answer questions that have been on the minds of many people - from why the chemical was not detected much earlier, to how much a grown man could ingest before he was armed.
Meanwhile, other milk brands, coffee shops and coffee chains have also clarified what kind of milk they use.
Marcel Lee Pereira and Dawn Tay tell you what you need to know about the situation so far.
Q1. Why was melamine not found in previous AVA tests? What tests does AVA run on dairy products?
AVA says melamine is not routinely tested for in food-safety screenings by authorities worldwide as it is not a hazard associated with milk.
For milk products, AVA usually tests for food borne pathogens such as e. coli and salmonella. Both can cause food-poisoning.
Tests are also done for chemical contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticide and drug residue, and pollutants.
Q2. How long has the melamine contamination of dairy products been going on worldwide?
Probably in the past year, says AVA. In China, the first cases of babies with kidney problems due to melamine were reported early this year, along with a spike in the number of renal-disease cases in children.
China's dairy industry is only about 10 years old. Before that, products such as White Rabbit candy were made with milk from outside China, so they were probably safe, says AVA.
Q3. So far, which products have been affected by the tainted-milk scare?
Melamine has been detected in three products from China:
Yili Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt Flavoured Ice Confection; Dutch Lady Strawberry Flavoured Milk; and White Rabbit Creamy Candies.
AVA says the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China has been suspended.
High-level protein products from China, such as cereal, will also be tested.
Q4. My child and I have been eating the contaminated products for some time. Will we be affected?
Don't panic. Melamine levels detected in products in Singapore are much lower than those in China. Low levels of melamine do not form kidney stones and are passed out with urine.
To be at risk, a 60kg adult would have to consume seven bars of tainted Yili Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yoghurt Flavoured Ice Confection each day in his lifetime. A 30kg child would have to eat 23.5 pieces of tainted White Rabbit Creamy Candy a day in his lifetime.
Q5. How do I tell if my child or I have kidney problems due to melamine contamination? What should I do if I suspect a problem?
AVA says you should look out for the following symptoms:
-Pain, irritability and persistent crying, especially when passing urine
-Blood in urine
-Fever, nausea and vomiting
-Concerned parents should take their child to
their family doctor for initial check-ups.
Q6. Where do other milk brands in Singapore come from? What kind of milk do coffee shops and coffee chains here use?
Nestle Singapore: Milk from Australia, New Zealand or Europe. No ingredients from China.
Magnolia, Daisy and Marigold: All dairy products are not made from ingredients from China.
Coffee shops: Mostly condensed milk made locally or in Malaysia. Chains such as Starbucks and Spinelli Coffee Company use milk from Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
Q7. How can I tell where my dairy product is from?
Read the label to check the country of origin. If the product is labelled "People's Republic of China", "PRC", or "China", do not consume it, says AVA.
If you are unsure, call the individual suppliers, importers or manufacturers to check the source of the ingredients used.
Q8. What new measures are the authorities taking to deal with the problem?
National Environment Agency (NEA) is running checks on bakeries, coffee shops, school canteens and food courts.
AVA has completed testing 250 samples from more than 125 products from China and other countries, and will continue to do so.
AVA says it is considering a certification requirement for products from China to be declared melamine-free.
No comments:
Post a Comment