Melamine in samples, firm says products safe
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL AND PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found melamine in 20 tonnes of milk powder imported from China by Dutch Mill Co, but the firm has assured consumers its products are safe.
The chemical was found in samples taken from the company's warehouse in Nakhon Pathom province, FDA deputy secretary-general Narangsan Peerakit said yesterday.
The food watchdog did not issue a health warning and will test the milk powder again, he said. The results would be available tomorrow.
Dutch Mill managing director Thirayuth Chaisawangwong said the company was keeping the 20 tonnes of tainted milk powder in storage.
Mr Thirayuth, who has 35 years of experience in food technology, said product quality is the firm's priority concern because Dutch Mill products sell in Thailand and nine other countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and China.
European Union standards allow an intake of 0.5 milligrammes of melamine per kilo of body weight per day. Consumers would need to drink more than 1,000 litres of milk a day to be in danger.
The EU standard is the same as that used by the FDA, said Deputy Public Health Minister Wicharn Meenchainant.
The FDA confirmed M&M chocolate candies and Lotte koala-shaped chocolate biscuits imported from China are safe for consumption.
Last week the agency asked local retailers to temporarily pull from shelves 11 types of biscuits and snacks which contained milk ingredients from China.
This followed the growing scandal over food safety since 22 milk suppliers in China were found to have added melamine to falsely boost protein readings for substandard milk.
The FDA's off-the-shelf list comprised M&M chocolates, Lotte koala biscuits, Oreo wafer sticks, Dove milk chocolate, Snickers caramel peanut bars and nougat, Mentos yoghurt candies and Mao Huad coffee and oatmeal crackers.
The FDA will issue certificates to the distributors before making the snacks available to consumers again.
The FDA expects to be able to release its test results for other products on the off-the-shelf list next week.
Retailers alarmed by the toxic milk reports from China have taken tens of thousands of food products to the FDA for melamine testing.
FDA secretary-general Chatree Bancheun said the FDA would collect more samples of powdered milk used as a key ingredient in production of instant milk beverages for testing.
Dr Chatree said consumers should not be too alarmed by the milk contamination reports.
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