Doha - The reported detection of melamine contamination in Nestle and Mars snack products made in China has caused concern in Qatar. However, an official of a leading hypermarket yesterday said none of the products concerned sold in their outlets is sourced from China.
Reports yesterday said South Korea had ordered some China-made snack products from Mars and Nestle taken off shelves after they were found to contain traces of melamine.
Minute traces of melamine were found in M&M's milk chocolate snack and Snickers peanut Fun Size, both produced by Mars. Kit Kat bars from Nestle were also found containing traces of the substance.
Melamine, used in kitchen utensils, can pose serious health risks if consumed in large amounts.
"Most of the chocolates we sell are locally sourced," Zainul Abideen, an official of LuLu Hypermarket, told The Peninsula.
When asked about Nestle and Mars products sold here, he said none of them were made in China. "We don't have any Chinese-made chocolate products," Abideen said.
He added they were taking measures to make sure no such Chinese-made products enter the local market.
The Peninsula visited some hypermarkets yesterday and found most of the well-known chocolate products were made in the UK, UAE, US, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia. None was manufactured in China.
Consumers have also become extra cautious in buying chocolate and other milk products since the media first reported the contamination of milk and milk products in China with melamine. At least four children in China died after drinking tainted infant milk formula last month.
"I always check the labels of chocolates before I buy them," said an Indian who was spotted purchasing Mars chocolates in LuLu Hypermarket with his five-year-old daughter. He said children as well as adults who love chocolate had to check on products they buy.
Many countries have decided to suspend imports of Chinese milk products or to withdraw them from their market in the wake of the tainted milk scandal. The products affected include biscuits, bread rolls, cake mix, powdered milk, chocolate, sweets and energy bars.
By Raynald Rivera
© The Peninsula 2008
