DOH bans RP biscuit product in local markets

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday banned the sale Philippine-made Sunflower Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich in local markets after it tested positive for melamine content in Hong Kong. In a one-page memorandum, DOH Sec. Francisco Duque banned the "distribution, sale or offer for sale or export" of the product until the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) issues clearance that the product is safe for human consumption. Duque cited the authority given to the DOH by Article 10 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines in declaring a ban on products deemed "injurious, dangerous and unsafe" as the legal basis for imposing the ban. "In the interest of public safety and the well-being of the people, the Department of Health hereby declares the product to be imminently injurious, unsafe and dangerous. As such, it is hereby ordered banned from distribution, sale or offer for sale or export. No firm, company or whatever entity shall buy, purchase or otherwise acquire said products for whatever reason," said Duque. Duque also ordered Croley Foods Manufacturing Corporation's to immediately recall the melamine-tainted product in accordance with the DOH circular. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) over the weekend revealed that it found the biscuit product to be positive of melamine, containing 3.2 parts per million (ppm). The CFS statement noted that the sample tested was a 270 grams pack containing 10 small individual packs, with an expiry date of December 5, 2008. BFAD agents have already been instructed to gather samples of the product in markets and factories. Earlier during the day, Croley Foods' marketing manager Jeremiah Lim said in a letter addressed to GMA Network, Inc.,that the ingredients they use for their products are certified melamine-free. "Croley is open and has nothing to hide. It has various certifications…issued by its raw material suppliers attesting to the fact that the suppliers are free from melamine," Lim said in the letter. The BFAD has just concluded its own testing of China-made milk and milk products with six being found positive of melamine, namely Lotte B+W Koala Biscuit, Lotte Chocolate Snack Koala Biscuit, Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuit, Jollycow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk (more calcium & Vitamin D) (1 Liter), Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV