S. Korea finds harmful chemical in Chinese creamer product

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities said Friday they have found traces of a harmful chemical in a Chinese creamer product used in instant coffee mixes.

The discovery of melamine, which can cause kidney problems and even death in
severe cases, follows a confirmation by the Korea Food and Drug Administration
(KFDA) on Thursday that two types of snacks sold domestically contained traces of
the industrial chemical. Both products were imported from China.
Seoul started scrutinizing imported dairy products after several Chinese
manufacturers were found to have used melamine in baby formulas and powdered
milk. Reports say thousands of Chinese infants have been hospitalized, and four
have died.
The watchdog said that while investigations have not yet been completed, it has
ordered a ban on 304 types of dairy-based foods and ingredients from China that
have not been checked yet as a precautionary measure. It checked 123 items so far
out of 428.
"The order was issued to all regional governments and advised consumers not to
buy products for the time being," a KFDA official said. The names of products
that have yet to be checked are to be posted on administration's homepage
(www.kfda.go.kr).
He added that analysis of the F25 vegetable creamer powder made by a company in
Shandong Province and used in instant coffee mixes had a melamine level of 1.5
parts per million. About 41 tons of the powder was imported, with the recalled
products to be destroyed.
"Because the melamine levels are very small, they do not pose any serious risks
to health," he expert said. He said they were also sold to cafes and used in
vending machines.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that can pose health risks if taken in
large quantities. It is used widely in kitchen utensils like ladles. If added to
food, the nitrogen can fraudulently increase apparent protein content levels,
translating into higher prices.
The authority said Thursday it found traces of melamine in the "Misarang Custard"
cake sold by South Korean Haitai Confectionery and Food Co. It has recalled the
Haitai product along with a snack called "Milk Rusk," which is imported from Hong
Kong but made in China.
The administration said earlier in the day that 4,308 tons of Chinese dairy-based
cream products were imported this year, raising the possibility that other
melamine-contaminated food may be discovered in the future.
These include products used with coffee and tea, whip cream and casein, a protein
that accounts for 80 percent of milk and cheese proteins.
Related to the local melamine scare, the agriculture ministry said it has
completed checking 56 types of fish feed made by 32 companies and found no traces
of the chemical.
News that two companies had sold tainted feed to freshwater fish farms caused a
drop in demand that has hurt restaurants and fish farm owners.
It said that probes were underway to check more than 700 livestock feed companies
in the coming weeks to determine whether their products are safe for animals.
South Korea is a net importer of agricultural goods and food, having bought 11.38
million tons from abroad last year. Of the total, 3.14 million tons came from
China, with numbers reaching 1.58 million tons as of August.
yonngong@yna.co.kr