Melamine found in imported confections from China

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's food safety agency on Wednesday moved to recall two confections imported from China after tests revealed traces of the toxic chemical melamine, health officials said.

Tests on "Misarang Custard" cake, produced by a Chinese firm for South Korea's
Haitai Confectionery and Foods Co., were undertaken by the Korea Food & Drug
Administration.
The agency said in a statement that melamine in the quantity of 137 parts per
million was detected in the product that was produced in July.
In addition, "Milk Rusk," imported from Hong Kong, revealed 7 ppm of melamine,
said the agency.
Authorities immediately took measures for public safety, seizing about 95 percent
of the "Misarang Custard" products.
Melamine has recently led to the deaths of four babies in China and the
hospitalization of more than 13,000 others, after some Chinese firms added the
chemical to watery milk to make it look higher in protein.
namsh@yna.co.kr