S. Korea imports large quantities of dairy-based Chinese confectionery

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has been importing large quantities of
Chinese-made confectionery that may have used a harmful chemical as an
ingredient, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said Saturday.

Authorities said the country imported 11,697 tons of biscuits and cookies last
year worth US$28.34 million that could have been tainted with melamine, while
importing on average more than 6,000 tons of candy.
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 chemical has caused a scandal in China, where
some manufacturers used it in baby formulas, causing the death of at least four
infants.
The KCS said that cookies and biscuit imports, in particular, have been growing
at a fast pace from 6,409 tons in 2004 to 9,266 tons in 2006.
It said at of August, imports stood at 7,460 tons making it likely that the total
number will exceed 10,000 tons this year.
Candy imports have generally remained unchanged in the past few years, but
reached 4,044 tons last month.
The customs service, in addition, said imports of ice cream and other frozen
sweet products shot up to 39 tons last year after remaining at an average 3 tons
per year in 2004-2006.
Related to the imports that may cause kidney problems if taken in large
quantities, the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) said Friday that it
will order all food that has not been checked for melamine contamination to be
barred from sale.
The names of products that have yet to be checked have been posted on the
administration's homepage (www.kfda.go.kr) so consumer can check if the food they
are eating has been examined.
A local health authority said earlier in the week that it found traces of
melamine in the "Misarang Custard" cake sold by South Korean Haitai Confectionery
and Food Co., vegetable creamer powder used in instant coffee mixes and "Milk
Rusk," which were imported from Hong Kong but made in China.
All food stuffs found to contain melamine are in the process of being recalled so
they can be destroyed.