SUPERMARKETS TO BE SCREENED FOR CHINA MILK BASED PRODUCTS

BENTONG, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said checks will be made on supermarkets and shops to screen for milk based products from China.

"Whether it is purely milk, or any kind of food like cookies which contain
dairy milk from China will be checked and samples taken for the Chemistry
Department to analyse.

"Cooperation from the wholesalers, consumers and related parties are
needed. We are very concerned about the health of consumers and do not want it
to cost lives," he said after giving Aidilfitri aid to the poor here
Tuesday.

No time frame was given for the checks to be conducted.

Liow said the checks were necessary as Singapore health authorities had
found melamine in "White Rabbit Creamy Candy".

The Health Ministry had on Sept 20 stationed officers at six entry points
to the country to enforce the ban on the import of milk products from
China.

He said the government would not compromise and would seize milk based
products from China to protect children from products tainted with
melamine.

Melamine is an industrial material used in the manufacturing of plastic and
fertiliser.

Rich in nitrogen, it could raise the protein level when mixed with milk. It
is prohibited in food production.
-- BERNAMA