Monday, February 2, 2009

China quality watchdog says no tainted Taiwan milk powder on domestic market

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Chinese media) -- Taiwan's Wei Chuan infant

milk powder containing fatal bacteria has been successfully recalled and no

powder entered the domestic market, Li Yuanping, spokesman of the General

Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said

Monday.

The administration said on its Website that the

infant milk powder failed quality tests when 9.62 tonnes of milk powder imported

from Taiwan between August to November was found to contain a deadly bacteria.

According to the administration, 9.62 tonnes of milk

powder contained enterobacter sakazakii, a bacteria which can cause meningitis,

inflammation of brain's protective membranes, developmental problems and even

death.

Li said media and customers were concerned about food

safety, but some media sources lacked detailed information about the disposal of

the tainted products.

The milk powder was among the 852 batches of food,

beverage and cosmetic products that failed quality tests. The list included

wines, frozen meat and fish, water and biscuits imported between August and

November from the United States, Japan and Spain.

All contaminated products have been disposed of in

accordance with national regulations, Li said.

Pauls milk, baby formula produced by Parmalat

Australia, also failed quality checks. Products were found to contain excessive

bacteria.

China has stepped up quality tests since the Sanlu

milk powder scandal broke out last September. Sanlu baby milk powder was found

contaminated with melamine, killing six children nationwide, and sickening

296,000 infants, according to the Ministry of Health.

As of Jan. 22, China has conducted 36 rounds of

quality tests on Chinese milk powder. The latest quality inspections showed the

products continued to meet new limits on melamine.

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