MELAMINE CONTAMINATION
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL, KRISSANA PARNSOONTHORN AND PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday blocked Dutch Mill Co's attempt to return milk powder to its suppliers in China until it gets the results of lab tests for melamine contamination.
FDA secretary-general Pipat Yingseree said the company could not send the milk powder back to the Chinese manufacturers without FDA permission as the agency had to wait for the lab tests.
Samples from 100 tonnes of milk powder now at a port in Samut Prakan are being tested by the Medical Sciences Department. The results are expected within days.
The FDA earlier found melamine levels in two previous samples taken from 22 tonnes of milk powder Dutch Mill was keeping at its storage facility in Nakhon Pathom were within the safety limit.
The tests for the FDA were conducted by a private laboratory. Now, those two samples are being re-tested by the Medical Sciences Department. The powdered milk in Nakhon Pathom was produced under the Shuangwa Full Cream Milk Powder brand. It is unclear whether the powdered milk in Samut Prakan was made by the same company.
"This is an issue of the honesty of traders and manufacturers. Traders have to be responsible for anything that may happen to consumers," Dr Pipat said.
If the milk powder tests positive for melamine at a safe level, the FDA will decide whether to give the green light for manufacturing. But if it exceeds the limit, it will have to be either destroyed or permission given for it to be shipped back to the manufacturer, he added.
According to FDA regulations, the level of melamine contamination in milk powder and drinking milk products must not exceed 1mg/kg. For milk-containing food products such as candies, cookies and chocolate, the melamine level must not exceed 2.5 mg/kg.
The FDA made its position clear after the producer of Dutch Mill dairy products said it planned to ship the tainted milk powder back to China.
Dutch Mill president Thirayuth Chaisawangwong said the firm had already contacted its Chinese suppliers to ship back all the tainted milk powder soon.
It would also suspend importing milk powder from China until the FDA sets a melamine contamination limit and consumers regain confidence in the safety of its products.The firm added its Chinese suppliers were not among 22 Chinese factories found to have had melamine contamination problems.
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