Cookies to be tested for melamine after Swiss scare

Written by Writer on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Cookies to be tested for melamine after Swiss scare

APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Bangkok Post

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday collected samples of S&P milk cookies for melamine testing after Swiss authorities found high concentrations of the chemical in imported products from Thailand.

FDA secretary-general Pipat Yingseree said officials picked random samples of the cookies from S&P factories for testing by the Medical Sciences Department.

The company announced its products had been recalled from the local market after receiving a report from Switzerland.

Authorities in Geneva say tests have found melamine in S&P milk cookies from Thailand and LemonPuff Munchee candies from Sri Lanka.

However, there was no indication of the exact level of melamine found in the two imported products.

European Union guidelines allow an intake of 0.5 milligrammes of melamine per kilogramme of body weight per day.

Dr Pipat said consumers should not be too alarmed as there was no grave risk to public health.

The FDA has tested for melamine contamination in 519 dairy products. Three samples of milk powder contained the chemical, with one of them over the FDA limit of 1mg/kg.

One hundred tonnes of powdered milk under the brand Beijing Shuangwa Daily Co, imported by Dairy Plus Co, was found to have a melamine level of 1.1-1.32 mg/kg. The company is a subsidiary of Dutch Mill Co.

The shipment arrived in Samut Prakan port late last month.

The agency previously seized 22 tonnes of milk powder of a similar brand under the parent company after two samples were found tainted with 0.38 mg/kg and 0.55 mg/kg of melamine.

The product was intended for the production of pasteurised milk.

At least 22 milk suppliers in China have been accused of adding melamine to milk products to falsely boost protein readings.

As a result, four children died and more than 53,000 people were hospitalised in China.