LEAD) Lee orders swift recall of tainted Chinese food products

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from 3rd para)
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Friday instructed the government's food watchdog agency to take swift measures to recall and scrap all Chinese-made food products tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical found to be extensively used by Chinese dairy producers.

During an unscheduled visit to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), Lee
also ordered watchdog officials to immediately conduct an extensive safety check
on all food products in circulation and toughen punishments for violators of the
laws concerning food safety and narcotics.
After the KFDA chief reported that a total of 428 imported Chinese food products
are currently under probe for possible traces of melamine, Lee stressed the
importance of prompt investigative procedures.
"Food safety checks are important but preventing contaminated products from
reaching consumers is more important. Any tainted products should be swiftly
recalled and scrapped," said Lee.
"Priority should be given to checks on food products consumed by children. In
particular, all foodstuffs and toys for elementary school students must be
extensively probed."
Lee's remarks came as a phobia of Chinese-made food products is rapidly spreading
across South Korea. The KFDA on Thursday banned imports of Chinese-made food
products containing Chinese powdered milk after the watchdog found melamine in
two biscuit products produced in China for South Korean consumers.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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