Report on latest action taken by the Philippine government to prevent the consumption of melamine-tainted milk and other dairy products from China.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the closure of companies and stores still importing and selling melamine-tainted milk and dairy products despite the worldwide uproar over such hazardous consumer items.
This developed as Philippine authorities announced on Wednesday that another China-made milk product tested positive for melamine, while clearing 21 other dairy products.
The Philippines’ Department of Health identified the melamine-tainted milk as Jolly Cow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk. It was found to contain a melamine level of 4 parts per million, which is higher than the US Food and Drugs Administration standard of 2.5 parts per million.
The Flying Ace Corp., the company marketing the product, said it "fully supports" the BFAD findings. It said Jolly Cow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk is a new product that has been in the market for around six months and "not a great deal" have been sold.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said authorities have been given instructions to seize the product from store shelves to protect the public from melamine poisoning.
Melamine is a chemical used for plastics which can make milk and other food products appear to have a higher protein count than they actually do. It been found in some infant formula manufactured by Chinese firms. Four Chinese infants have died while more than 50,000 have been hospitalized due to melamine poisoning.
Last week, health authorities identified Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink as having tested positive for melamine.
Duque said the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has lined up close to 100 dairy and meat products from China for possible melamine contamination. He said because of the limited capacity of government laboratories, milk and milk products from China will be prioritized for testing.
In a Cabinet meeting, Arroyo ordered concerned officials to strictly monitor the sale and importation of dairy products and close down the establishments selling melamine-tainted products.
Duque said Arroyo wanted to make sure that Filipino consumers are protected from contaminated dairy products coming from China.
Other importing countries have also banned Chinese milk products while the Chinese government has started a crackdown on all milk manufacturers using the toxic chemical melamine.
Duque said authorities would also begin testing canned meat products from China.
Duque said the Philippine government will also intensify its campaign against illegal milk importers after discovering that some of the melamine-positive products were shipped in illegally.
BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez said food importers must first secure a license food and allow their products to undergo BFAD testing before they can be imported and sold in the Philippines.
"It is only when BFAD has declared a product safe for consumption can Customs release it," she said.
