ID :
24867
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 17:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24867
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M'SIA BANS IMPORT OF RAISING AGENT FROM CHINA, ORDERS RECALL OF TWO BISCUIT BRANDS
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Thursday banned the import of raising agent "ammonium bicarbonate" from China as the substance was found to contain excessive melamine level.
Following the finding, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said two biscuit
manufacturers, Khong Guan and Khian Guan, had been ordered to recall several of
their products from the market.
He added that raising agents from other countries would be put under
thorough checks before they were allowed into the local market.
The ban on the raising agent, which takes effect immediately, was taken
after analysis made on samples from two biscuit factories -- Khong Guan in
southern state of Johor and Khian Guan in northern state of Penang -- found that
18 of 47 samples had excessive melamine levels.
"The analysis showed that only the raising agent, ammonium bicarbonate, was
found to contain high melamine level, which is 33.4 ppm (parts per million) for
Khong Guan biscuits and 508 ppm for Khian Guan biscuits," he said.
The permitted level is 2.5 mg/kg or 2.5 ppm.
"We have established that the raising agent used in both factories are from
China," he told reporters here.
He said the ministry had ordered Khong Guan to recall 12 biscuit brands
namely soda biscuit, lemon puff, lemon pof, butter cream, baby fish, healthy
cracker, cocoa puff, sandwich orange, family crackers, star-shaped biscuit,
rolled biscuit and mini puff.
The ministry also ordered the recall of six Khian Guan biscuits namely
creamy chocolate, lemon puff, square puff, cocoa puff, corn puff and party
biscuit mix.
Liow said the ministry was monitoring the situation and that the recalled
brands would be seized and destroyed if they were still being sold.
"We have also asked them to voluntarily recall other products until they
have been cleared by the ministry," he said.
Asked on the response from the manufacturers, Liow said, "They are very
responsive."
Liow also said that the ministry was identifying the importers,
distributors
and suppliers of the raising agent and would carry out checks on biscuit
factories nationwide to determine whether they had been using the substance.
Asked on a report by a Canadian news channel, CBC News, that Julie's
Crackers from Malaysia was found to contain excessive melamine level and had
been recalled from Taiwan market, Liow said the ministry was investigating the
matter.
On reports by local dailies Thursday that the Mali unsweetened condensed
milk, produced by a Thai company, had been found to contain high melamine level,
Liow said the ministry was obtaining further information on the matter from the
Thai authorities.
"We want to know if the product is imported into the country... if it is,
we
will order a stop," he said.
Meanwhile, Liow said 14 more food samples have passed the melamine
standard,
bringing the total of products certified to have complied with the regulation to
138.
The products are Amoy flour vermicilli (Shun Shun Fuk), animal biscuits
chocolate cream certified (ZQ), coconut biscuits (Bairong), creamy peanut butter
(Lady's Choice), creamy peanut butter (Skippy), crunchy peanut butter (Kinus),
durian cream biscuits (Sanwa), magic chew candy (Layang), marsh mellow blueberry
flavour candy (Ego).
Marsh mellow grape jam candy (Ego), Magnum mini classic vanilla flavoured
ice cream with chocolate coated (WALL's), peanut butter & chocolate rice crisp
(Lady's Choice), peanut butter & strawberry flavoured stripes (Lady's Choice)
and sesame paste cookies (C7OK).
Following the finding, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said two biscuit
manufacturers, Khong Guan and Khian Guan, had been ordered to recall several of
their products from the market.
He added that raising agents from other countries would be put under
thorough checks before they were allowed into the local market.
The ban on the raising agent, which takes effect immediately, was taken
after analysis made on samples from two biscuit factories -- Khong Guan in
southern state of Johor and Khian Guan in northern state of Penang -- found that
18 of 47 samples had excessive melamine levels.
"The analysis showed that only the raising agent, ammonium bicarbonate, was
found to contain high melamine level, which is 33.4 ppm (parts per million) for
Khong Guan biscuits and 508 ppm for Khian Guan biscuits," he said.
The permitted level is 2.5 mg/kg or 2.5 ppm.
"We have established that the raising agent used in both factories are from
China," he told reporters here.
He said the ministry had ordered Khong Guan to recall 12 biscuit brands
namely soda biscuit, lemon puff, lemon pof, butter cream, baby fish, healthy
cracker, cocoa puff, sandwich orange, family crackers, star-shaped biscuit,
rolled biscuit and mini puff.
The ministry also ordered the recall of six Khian Guan biscuits namely
creamy chocolate, lemon puff, square puff, cocoa puff, corn puff and party
biscuit mix.
Liow said the ministry was monitoring the situation and that the recalled
brands would be seized and destroyed if they were still being sold.
"We have also asked them to voluntarily recall other products until they
have been cleared by the ministry," he said.
Asked on the response from the manufacturers, Liow said, "They are very
responsive."
Liow also said that the ministry was identifying the importers,
distributors
and suppliers of the raising agent and would carry out checks on biscuit
factories nationwide to determine whether they had been using the substance.
Asked on a report by a Canadian news channel, CBC News, that Julie's
Crackers from Malaysia was found to contain excessive melamine level and had
been recalled from Taiwan market, Liow said the ministry was investigating the
matter.
On reports by local dailies Thursday that the Mali unsweetened condensed
milk, produced by a Thai company, had been found to contain high melamine level,
Liow said the ministry was obtaining further information on the matter from the
Thai authorities.
"We want to know if the product is imported into the country... if it is,
we
will order a stop," he said.
Meanwhile, Liow said 14 more food samples have passed the melamine
standard,
bringing the total of products certified to have complied with the regulation to
138.
The products are Amoy flour vermicilli (Shun Shun Fuk), animal biscuits
chocolate cream certified (ZQ), coconut biscuits (Bairong), creamy peanut butter
(Lady's Choice), creamy peanut butter (Skippy), crunchy peanut butter (Kinus),
durian cream biscuits (Sanwa), magic chew candy (Layang), marsh mellow blueberry
flavour candy (Ego).
Marsh mellow grape jam candy (Ego), Magnum mini classic vanilla flavoured
ice cream with chocolate coated (WALL's), peanut butter & chocolate rice crisp
(Lady's Choice), peanut butter & strawberry flavoured stripes (Lady's Choice)
and sesame paste cookies (C7OK).
