Melamine found in Snickers, Kit Kat products from China: watchdog

SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's food watchdog said Saturday it detected quantities of melamine, an industrial chemical, in chocolate products from foodstuff giants Nestle SA and Mars Inc. that were manufactured in China.

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) said 2.38 parts per million (ppm)
and 1.78 ppm of the toxic substance was discovered in samples of M&M's Milk and
Peanut Snickers Fun Size products, respectively, from Mars Korea.
A Kit Kat bar from Nestle Korea was also found to contain 2.89 ppm of melamine,
the agency said. The latest discoveries brings the local number of tainted food
items to 10 amid a broadening scandal over Chinese dairy products.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that can pose serious health risks if
ingested frequently or in large quantities. It is used widely in kitchen
utensils, but if added to food items the nitrogen can artificially increase
protein levels, translating into higher prices.
Chinese health officials have said the use of melamine in dairy products has
killed at least four infants and left 54,000 others ailing from kidney stones or
other illnesses.
The KFDA is currently in the process of examining 428 processed foods
manufactured in China to see whether they contain the hazardous substance. It has
completed checking 288 products as of Saturday morning.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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