Wednesday, August 08, 2007 DOH here continues check of China-made products By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Department of Health (DOH)-Southern Mindanao is still checking the various commodities imported from China that are being sold in Davao City as the Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) has not issued additional warnings against other Chinese food products that were submitted for laboratory tests.
Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, director of DOH-Southern Mindanao, said most Chinese products sold in the city have already been submitted to the BFAD for tests.
She added that the Food and Drug Administration of the United States is also conducting an independent test on the products imported from China.
Moreover, Ubial asserted that the BFAD has not issued any additional warnings apart from the initial warning that it has released.
"Still, only the four mentioned Chinese products are being removed from the market until further studies are completed," Ubial said.
The BFAD had earlier found formaldehyde content in White Rabbit Creamy Candy, Milk Candy, Bairong Grape Biscuits, and Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuits when it tested several China-made food products.
The recent fiasco on the recall of a Fisher Price toys of its popular products that were made in China, has once again sparked the controversy on the toxicity level of products imported from China. The toy company made the recall after it discovered that the paint used in its toys had a high level of lead; a poisonous element. Among those recalled were children favorites Dora and Elmo.
"The recall was a precautionary measure, there was no court order issued yet," Ubial added, "it was purely voluntary on the part of the company."
Ubial said though lead is toxic, there is no immediate danger. "But when it comes to your children, we would not want to take chances," she added.
