Food Scare :(

Singapore finds more melamine in food

September 22, 2008

SINGAPORE has found the potentially deadly chemical melamine in a third milk product imported from China, authorities say.

New laboratory findings showed White Rabbit Creamy Candy from China is also contaminated with melamine, the city-state's government announced late yesterday.

Melamine is at the centre of a widening food safety scandal in China, where authorities said nearly 13,000 children were in hospital yesterday after drinking toxic milk powder.

On Friday, Singapore suspended the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China after local tests found samples containing melamine, which is used to make plastics.

"These products include milk, ice cream, yoghurt, confectionery such as chocolates, biscuits and sweets, as well as any other products containing milk from China as an ingredient,'' the agri-food and veterinary authority (AVA) said.

Retailers and importers have been told to recall these products.

AVA said its tests first found melamine in samples of Yili brand iced yoghurt, and then in the Dutch Lady brand of strawberry-flavoured milk.

At least four children in China have died from drinking poisonous baby formula.

Melamine was initially reported only in milk powder but Chinese authorities later said they found it in some regular milk as well.

The chemical can make milk and other food products appear to have a higher protein content than they actually do.

It has become apparent in recent days that people in China have been deliberately watering down milk and then adding in the melamine to boost the protein content and make the product look normal.

Countries from Brunei to Burundi have barred Chinese milk products as a result.

Melamine can cause chronic nephrotoxicity and finally acute renal failure. It is excreted poorly by the body.

There are also some other food which maybe complicated eg Snickers, M&M, Biskit, Dove chocolate bars, Mentos yogurt balls, Oreo wafer sticks, and Want Want Take One Baby Bites.

I don't know how true is that, but my friends, be careful!