Countrywide Alert On Chinese Milk Products

Shipments of food from China have been held up from entering the U.S. if they contain milk or milk-derived ingredients.

It’s all part of an effort to prevent the industrial chemical, melamine, from entering the U.S. food supplies.

Importers are now required to test for melamine. The industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers, had been added to milk products in China to increase the protein reading.

So far four Chinese infants have died while tens of thousands have been sickened. Consuming large amounts can lead to kidney stones and death. 

Melamine was also found in contaminated pet food last year that killed hundreds of U.S. pets. 

If an importer can prove his product is not tainted, FDA will release it, said Steve Solomon, the agency's deputy associate commissioner for compliance and policy.

Canadian Costco shoppers found some melamine-tainted pirate chocolate gold coins in candy distributed this Halloween.  A ban on specific Chinese products was imposed by the FDA in October. Since then, the agency has additional information to conclude that a countrywide import alert is warranted.

In China, melamine has been found in milk containing products such as frozen yogurt, instant coffee chocolates sold round the world, and in Chinese eggs and fish feed.

The U.S. is specifically looking at milk products from China found in cookies and candies, bakery and cereal foods, icings, snack foods, products containing cheese, milk and butter, soft candy with fillings and pet foods.    

There is no food grade melamine or safe standard set for consumption, but the FDA, in a risk assessment, found that levels of melamine in foods outside of infant formula in levels below 2.5 parts per million, do not raise a health concern.

There have been no health problems reported from ingesting melamine in products from China in the U.S.

In the U.K., Cadbury chocolates were recalled after 11 types of Chinese-made chocolates were found to contain melamine.

Meanwhile, several involved in dairy production in China have been arrested in the melamine-tainted infant formula scandal. 

FDA officials are heading to China next week to open up FDA offices in three Chinese cities to get a better handle on inspections in that country for products destined for the U.S.

The FDA is advising consumers not to consume the following products because of possible melamine contamination:

• Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits New! 
• Koala’s March Crème filled Cookies
• YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink
• YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink
• Blue Cat Flavored Drinks
• White Rabbit Candies
• Mr. Brown Mandehling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
• Infant formula manufactured in China  #