Friday, October 10, 2008

Melamine in 3 more items

Oct 9, 2008
Melamine in 3 more items
Three more products imported from China have been found to be tainted with melamine, bringing the total number of affected items in Singapore to 13. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
THREE more products imported from China have been found to be tainted with melamine, bringing the total number of affected items in Singapore to 13 since the China milk scandal exploded into the open in early September.

They are Cadbury Choclairs - Blueberry and Coffee flavours - and Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder (industrial pack), said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore on Thursday.

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However, the Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder is meant for manufacturing use and is not available in the retail market.

AVA said the milk powder has also been sealed in the manufacturer's warehouse since the authority suspended the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China since Sept 19.

"We would like to assure the public that the milk powder has not been used in any food production," added the AVA.

All importers must destroy the tainted products under AVA's supervision.

Melamine is an industry chemical not approved for use in food manufacture.

Anyone who find such products still on sale should inform AVA immediately.

AVA reiterated that the levels of melamine detected in the affected products are low and hence unlikely to result in any adverse health effect.

"Consumers have to consume large quantities of the contaminated products over a prolonged period of time to be at risk of potential ill effects on health.

"As melamine is not allowed for use in food, AVA will continue to suspend the import and sale of milk and milk products from China until we are very sure that such products are safe for consumption."

Up to 53,000 children in China were sickened and four have died after the industrial chemical melamine was added to a range of dairy products, including infant milk formula, falsely making the goods appear to contain higher levels of protein.

Some 47,000 of the children have been hospitalised for kidney problems caused by melamine.

Although the tainted milk was discovered as early as March this year, industry and government cover-ups kept the scandal out of the state media until early September.

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