BFAD expands inspection to include other milk products

(Updated 6:12 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines – Amid a scare over milk contamination in China, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on Tuesday said it has expanded its inspection from milk to other milk products - including candies, chocolates, yoghurt and ice cream. In an interview with radio dzBB, BFAD director Professor Leticia Gutierrez said these products may have used contaminated milk as a raw product and needs to be tested for the safety of their consumption. “There are also products we have included (in our inspection, such as) milk chocolates, some candies that are most likely contaminated. We have included (those) in our market monitoring. Yung mga milk chocolates, saka yoghurt, ice cream siguro…we’ll do our best to check," Gutierrez said. Gutierrez reiterated that the public should be wary of all milk products imported from China aside from Mengniu and Yili which are suspected to contain melamine. “Ang sinasabi namin sa mga magulang lalo na sa mga nanay, huwag na muna silang bumili ng mga produkto na galing sa China. Kapag nabasa nila na ‘Made from China’ or pag may nabasa sila na ‘People’s Republic of China o PROC’… at kadalasan naman may mga Chinese characters din so iwasan nila ito. (We are advising parents, expecially mothers, to steer clear of milk imported from China. They should be wary of brands where ‘Made from China’ or People’s Republic of China or PROC, or those with Chinese characters are included in the labels)," Gutierrez said. “Marami naman ibang brand…na matagal na rin sa merkado. I’m sure may experience sila dito na ang mga gatas na ito ay okay, kumbaga (There are other brands in the market that have been proven to be safe. These brands have clear records, so to speak)" Gutierrez added. Gutierrez had earlier ordered the recall of two Chinese milk products made by the Chinese firms Mengniu (Mengniu Dairy Co) and Yili (Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group) from the market. Last week, some China-made milk products have been banned in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore for containing melamine. About 53,000 Chinese children have fallen ill following the intake of contaminated milk. Melamine, a compound that is used for plastic and herbicide manufacture, by itself is nontoxic in low doses. However, when combined with cyanuric acid, it can cause fatal kidney stones. Melamine is sometimes added to food products in order to increase the apparent protein content. In a separate telephone interview with GMANews.TV, BFAD Laboratory Technician Annie Canlas said they are estimating that results of the tests on milk samples may be released next week. The BFAD on Monday ordered an indefinite halt in the importation, distribution, and even selling of all infant formulas and registered milk products sourced from China. In an advisory, the BFAD said the temporary ban would be lifted only after laboratory testing conducted on the products is completed and their safety is confirmed. “In the interest of protecting public health and welfare, [the BFAD] is directing all licensed importers and/or distributors of registered milk products sourced from China to immediately stop temporarily from further importing, distributing, selling and offering for sale (infant formula and milk products)," the BFAD said. “Consumers are advised not to purchase, for the time being, milk products that are manufactured or sourced in China until further notice from this Bureau when data are presented assuring the products’ safety and fitness for human consumption," it added. As for infant formulas, the BFAD said such products from China should not be purchased and used because BFAD records have shown that there was no registered infant formula produced in and imported from that country. The BFAD also urged all officials especially in local governments to conduct their respective investigation on infant formula and milk products from China that might have been brought into the Philippine through unauthorized means. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV with reports from Mark Merueñas