China melamine-in-milk scandal spreads to Europe
24 September 2008 14:39 [Source: ICIS news]
URL: http://www.icis.com/Articles/article.aspx?liarticleid=9158773&nf=true
By Hilde Ovrebekk
LONDON (ICIS news)--The Chinese melamine scandal spread to Europe on Wednesday as leading UK grocer Tesco announced it would withdraw a range of children’s confectionery from stores over fears they contained the toxic chemical.
The supermarket chain recalled its White Rabbit Creamy Candies due to reports it could contain melamine, a chemical which has contaminated formula milk and other dairy products in China, killing four infants and making 53,000 ill.
Melamine, an industrial chemical used in plastics, had been added to diluted milk products to make it appear higher in protein. Two further illnesses have also been reported in Hong Kong.
A Tesco spokeswoman said the product had been withdrawn as a precautionary measure. It is sold as part of the shop chain’s ethnic range.
A UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) spokeswoman said: "We are asking industry to check the source of this product and will take any action if necessary."
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) issued a statement earlier on Wednesday warning people not to consume imported White Rabbit Creamy Candies.
It said testing for the presence of melamine in a wide range of products containing a significant dairy content imported into New Zealand from China had shown contamination at unacceptably high levels in the confectionary.
Results identified the presence of 180 ppm of melamine, it said.
“This is a serious concern,” said NZFSA deputy CEO Sandra Daly.
“We have issued a director-general’s statement advising people not to eat these products as we cannot discount the likelihood of health risks resulting from the consumption of these sweets."
The product is manufactured by Shanghai Guan Sheng Yuan Food. It has been been advertised with a slogan saying seven White Rabbit candies is equivalent to one cup of milk.
China has sent inspectors to check dairy farms nationwide after Sanlu Group, China Mengniu Dairy and 20 producers were found to have sold contaminated products.
More than 7,000 tonnes of dairy products has been pulled from the shelves, while authorities have seized 4,247 tonnes of milk powder and 1,562 tonnes of liquid milk contaminated with melamine, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
White Rabbit was pulled from shelves in Singapore on Sunday as the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) advised the public against the consumption of milk and other dairy products from China after samples tested positive for the toxic chemical.
The Yili Brand Choice Dairy Fruit Bar yogurt-flavoured ice confection and the Dutch Lady strawberry flavoured milk were also recalled in the city-state.
Milk and dairy products from China have also been banned or recalled from a number of countries in Asia and Africa.
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By: Hilde Ovrebekk
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