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Sunday, September 28, 2008
China flour in watchlist
MANILA -- Health authorities have expanded their monitoring of products for possible melamine contamination to include imported flour from China, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Saturday.
The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) also removed four products listed for melamine testing as those were manufactured in New Zealand.
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Duque III said the Department of Health (DOH) raised the possibility after several local businessmen claimed that China flour might also be mixed with melamine to increase the product's protein content.
Melamine, an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of plastics, was reportedly used by milk manufacturer Sanlu Group. It reportedly gives milk a higher protein count in tests, but while ingesting minute amounts of it is not considered dangerous, the chemical can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure.
He said he already forwarded the concern to BFAD to also test flour from China for possible melamine contamination.
The Philippine Association of Flour Millers (Pafmil) wrote to BFAD Director Leticia Barbara Gutierrez last year regarding the entry of imported Chinese flour whose nutrient levels fall below the government standards.
Pafmil submitted samples of Chinese flour found containing lower levels of Vitamin A and iron.
Under the Fortification Law, the maximum fortification level of 6.6 ppm is for Vitamin A and 105 ppm for iron. The law also mandates the enrichment of wheat flour with Vitamin A and iron at minimum levels of 3 parts per million and 7 ppm, respectively.
Pamfil also reported early this year the unabated smuggling of Chinese flour in the country. Some of the flour shipments were also declared as other products to avoid the payment of the five to seven percent duty on flour and 12 percent value added tax (VAT).
These Chinese flour products are reportedly being sold in Cagayan Valley, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan De Oro.
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On the other hand, BFAD removed the Fonterra brands Anchor Lite Milk, Anlene Milk Low Fat, Anmum Materna, and Anmum Materna Chocolate from its initial list of food items that will be tested for possible melamine contamination.
Gutierrez said the four products of Fonterra removed from the list were manufactured in New Zealand. The DOH directive calls for testing of milk and milk-based products from or manufactured in China.
However, the BFAD retained three other Fonterra products -- Anchor Wam! Fruit Milk Drink Mango Magic, Anchor Wam! Fruit Milk Drink Orange Chill, Anchor Wam! Fruit Milk Drink Strawberry Spin -- since these were not produced in New Zealand.
BFAD released on Friday an initial list of 56 milk-based products which are being examined for possible contamination.
The process of finding out presence of any harmful elements in China-made milk products is not easy for it would require several testing.
The products include liquid and powdered milk, candy, biscuits, chocolate bars and drinks, and yogurt with dairy components from China.
BFAD said the 56 products are merely for testing and are still not confirmed if they indeed contain melamine, following reports that these are made with raw materials coming from China.
Health authorities also clarified that the initial list of 56 products released by BFAD does not mean these items are contaminated with melamine.
"There's a misunderstanding here. The public thought that the products in the list are already contaminated with melamine," Secretary Duque said. "There's no result yet."
Duque said DOH will come up with a "negative list" of milk and dairy products that the public should avoid.
BFAD earlier advised the public to avoid all milk products with the mark "made in China" or PROC, initials for People's Republic of China, and those that have Chinese characters.
Other importing countries have also banned Chinese milk products as the Chinese government conducted a crackdown on all milk manufacturers that are using the toxic chemical melamine.
Over 50,000 Chinese babies have been reported sickened due to infant formula milk products that are contaminated with melamine. (PNA/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (September 28, 2008 issue)
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