Dairy Products manufactured in China

1) Straits Times, AsiaOne, Reuters

SINGAPORE'S Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has advised local importers and retailers to remove from the market a China-made dairy product as it could be tainted with a health-threatening chemical.

The AVA yesterday said the 'Yili brand' Natural Choice Yogurt Flavoured Ice Bar with Real Fruit (90ml) should be withheld from sale immediately in Singapore, pending the authority's investigation and tests.

The advisory came after AVA's Hong Kong counterpart, the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety, issued a press statement on the recall of the product, which was made by Shanghai Yili AB Foods Company.

A sample of the ice bar was found to contain a low level of melamine (15 ppm) - the chemical at the heart of the infant formula scandal in China.

Melamine is rich in nitrogen, an element often used to measure protein, and can be used to disguise diluted milk. It can cause kidney stones and other organ problems.

China said on Wednesday that a third infant has died after drinking contaminated milk and the number of sick has leapt to many thousands. An official said the health threat had been concealed for at least a month.

The number of children ill after drinking powdered milk laced melamine has risen nearly five-fold to 6,244, and those with 'acute kidney failure' has reached 158, China's Health Minister Chen Zhu told a news conference.
(http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20080918-88532.html)



2) Singapore: White Rabbit Creamy Candy" Found To Contain Melamine

AVA's latest laboratory findings show that the "White Rabbit Creamy Candy" (大白兔奶糖) from China is also contaminated with melamine. Consumers who have bought the affected products are advised not to consume them.

The latest test results bring the total number of milk and related products from China imported into Singapore that are found to be contaminated with melamine to three. The other two affected products are 'Yili Brand' Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt Flavoured Ice Confection" and "Dutch Lady" brand of strawberry flavoured milk.

All the affected products have been recalled earlier. Since 19 Sep 08, AVA has suspended the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China. These products include milk, ice-cream, yoghurt, confectionery such as chocolates, biscuits and sweets as well as any other products containing milk from China as an ingredient.

As a precaution, consumers are also advised not to consume any milk or milk products from China.

Consumers who have any queries can call AVA's hotline at 63257625 during office hours (8.30 am – 6.00 pm, Monday – Friday). (http://www.ava.gov.sg/)

Additionally, consumers of Dutch Lady products can call 6419-8466 to get further information. Consumers can call the hotline starting from September 22 to 26, from 9am till 5pm daily. (http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080921/tap-297-milk-importer-dutch-lady-brand-d-231650b.html)