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Authorities say biscuit made in China contaminated
A biscuit made in China was discovered to be contaminated with melamine, a chemical blamed for the formation of kidney stones that left four infants dead and 50,000 others sick in China, a senior Philippine official said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 October 18, 2008
Manila: A biscuit made in China was discovered to be contaminated with melamine, a chemical blamed for the formation of kidney stones that left four infants dead and 50,000 others sick in China, a senior Philippine official said.
"Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuit was positive for melamine contamination. It was already banned from being sold in the market," the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) announced.
This brought to four the number of China-made products tested positive for melamine.
The other three melamine-contaminated products were Jollycow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk, Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk, and Mengniu Drink.
Meanwhile, 34 of the 35 products that were recently tested for melamine contamination were cleared of the dangerous chemical, said BFAD.
"There is a downtrend in the milk scare since a few China milk products out of more than 160 that were tested by BFAD," said health secretary Francisco Duque.
Warning
Meanwhile Bangladesh authorities urged consumers to avoid buying eight brands of powdered milk and infant formula after a test found traces of melamine, an official said.
Commerce ministry additional secretary Golam Mostakim said a Dhaka University lab had found the industrial chemical in brands including Dano, of Denmark's Arla Food and Nido Fortified Instant Formula, made by Nestlé.
Three of the brands were imported from China while the rest were imported from Denmark, Australia and New Zealand.
"We have advised people not to buy the eight brands until further notice. It's a big public health concern and we'll sit again on Sunday to take further action," said Mostakim.
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