Public Health Ministry recalls 6 dairy products from store shelves

BANGKOK, Sept 25 (TNA) - Thai public health officials immediately pulled six dairy products from store shelves nationwide on Thursday in order to examine possible contamination by the industrial chemical melamine in the products.

Deputy Public Health Minister Wicharn Meenchainan and Secretary-General
Dr. Chatree Banchuen of the Ministry of Public Health jointly announced
strict preventive measures to control the chemical melamine in food
products in Thailand.

The six dairy products already withdrawn from store shelves include Mao
Huad coffee oatmeal crackers, imported by PR Impact Co., Ltd. , Oreo wafer
stick white chocolate, imported by Diethelm Co.,Ltd., Dove's milk
chocolate, imported by Mars Thailand, Inc., M&M's chocolate candies by
Mars Thailand, Inc., Snickers candy bars by Mars Thailand, Inc., and
Mentos Yoghurt Mix (Fruity mix yoghurt candies), imported by Sino-Pacific
Trading (Thailand), Co.,Ltd.

The pulling of the six products is temporary, Mr. Wicharn said. However,
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may declare further imported food
products for recalling. Dairy products will be thoroughly examined to see
whether melamine contamination is found and to ensure safety as well as
consumers' confidence.

The move came in the wake of a milk scandal in China where four deaths
have been blamed on toxic milk powder, which causes kidney stones and
agonising complications, and a string of Asian countries have banned or
recalled Chinese milk products. Thousands of Chinese infants are also sick
in hospital after drinking tainted milk formula.

Mr. Wichan also warned shoppers not to panic; however, make sure they
select products that state clearly the sources of imports and
manufacturers. (TNA)