08 October 2008

BEIRUT: Lebanon has issued an import ban on all powdered milk products originating from China, and is ready to remove affected products from the shelves of supermarkets and stores, Agriculture Minister Elias Skaff told The Daily Star Tuesday. "The products have proven to be detrimental to [peoples'] health," Skaff said, noting similar bans in Asia and Europe.

"We've already given instructions to the Economy Ministry to remove [affected] products from supermarket shelves," he added.

But it may be difficult to implement a complete recall of potentially tainted-products.

"Lebanon has imported 380 tons of powdered milk from China this year," Zuheir Berro of Consumers Lebanon told The Daily Star. We've stopped importing the tainted milk, he added, but "what we ask is to stop using what we have already imported."

Melamine, a nitrogen-based compound used to make an assortment of plastics and fertilizers, became popular in the middle of the last century as multi-purpose industrial chemical. The chemical's recent presence in baby formula has had devastating effects, often causing kidney stones and renal failure.

The US Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that no level of melamine is safe in baby formula. But it added that in other food products levels of melamine beneath 2.5 parts per million "do not raise concerns."

The melamine tainted-milk crisis reached the public in early September when the New Zealand government complained to the Chinese government that several infants had become ill after consuming baby formula containing powdered milk from China. Within days it became clear that thousands of Chinese children were already ill and that at least two had died.

According to the latest figures, 53,000 Chinese children have fallen ill from melamine-tainted milk and at least four have died. China has launched a full-scale investigation.

The tainted milk has spread well beyond Asian markets. At least seven African republics, the European Union, and Russia have suspended or banned powdered milk products origination from China.

And the foods affected by the tainted milk extend beyond baby formula. A number of Asian countries including Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan have banned all products containing potentially contaminated milk, like chocolate.

South Korean officials ordered Mars and Nestle to take certain products made in China, like M&M's milk chocolate snack, Snickers Fun Size, Kit Kat bars, and Ritz Sandwich Cracker Cheese, off the shelves.

Hong Kong found traces of melamine in two Cadbury products, which the England-based firm has recalled.

In Europe, Finland has taken Chinese Koala biscuits and the popular White Rabbit sweets off the market. 

In Lebanon, it is unclear whether products on the market are contaminated. "We cannot know which products contain the Chinese milk," Berro said. "What we stress to the consumers is to stop using chocolates, bonbons and biscuits if you are not sure of their origins. Use only fresh milk if you can." - With agencies

© Copyright The Daily Star 2008.

 

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