Latest test results of dairy product samples (with tables)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (September 26) released the latest batch of results of melamine tests on dairy products.

Results available today showed that of the 112 samples tested, including ice-cream produced locally, milk and milk beverages, raw milk, milk powder from overseas and baby food, 110 were satisfactory.

A sample of vegetable formula cereal and a sample of cracker were found unsatisfactory. Details are as follows:

1. Heinz DHA+AA Vegetable Formula Cereal (net weight: 200g, expiry date: April 26, 2010); level of melamine detected - 1.6ppm.

2. Silang House of Steamed Potato Wasabi Cracker (net weight: 238g, expiry date: September 3, 2009); level of melamine detected - 18ppm.

Under the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2008 which took effect on September 23, the legal limit for melamine in the above baby food is 1ppm while that for the cracker is 2.5ppm.

"We have already informed the trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling the products concerned. We have also sent warning letters to the retailers and importers concerned, and the importers will recall the affected products," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"The samples concerned were collected after the commencement of the amendment regulation. The CFS will take out prosecution if there is sufficient evidence."

According to the standards of the US Food and Drug Administration, the safety reference value (i.e. tolerable daily intake - TDI) for melamine is 0.63mg per kg of body weight per day. For children under the age of 36 months, as they are more sensitive to melamine, the TDI for melamine is 0.32mg per kg of body weight per day.

On the sample of vegetable formula cereal which was detected with a melamine level of 1.6ppm, the spokesman said a 7-month-old child weighing 6.4kg would have to eat about 1.3kg (about 7 packets) of the product a day to reach the TDI. On the cracker sample which was detected with a level of 18ppm, a child weighing 10kg (about 3–year-old) would have to eat about 0.18kg (about three quarters of a packet) of the product a day to reach the TDI.

"Based on the levels detected, the public is advised to stop consuming the two products concerned," the spokesman said.

To ensure the safety of baby food, the CFS has taken another batch of some 40 samples of baby food in the market for testing. Results for these samples will be announced within two days.

So far, the CFS has more or less completed testing of milk powder available in the local market, including infant formula, milk powder for growth, children, pregnant women and adults. A total of 147 samples were tested and all were satisfactory.

In addition, the Centre has more or less finished testing for milk, milk products and frozen confections produced locally and on the Mainland (total 420 samples), 10 samples were found unsatisfactory. The CFS has also taken 11 samples of soya milk product for tests and all the results were satisfactory. For tests on other products with dairy ingredients, including 68 samples of food and beverages, cheese, butter, candies, cakes, biscuits and chocolates, three samples were found unsatisfactory. All the unsatisfactory sample results have already been announced.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to collect baby food, other dairy products and products with dairy ingredients for testing," the spokesman said.
　
Information on the test results can be found on CFS's website www.cfs.gov.hk. For enquiries, members of the public can also call CFS's enquiry number 2381 6096 which operates from 9am to 9pm daily.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2008

Unsatisfactory results of testing of Melamine

Satisfactory results of testing of Melamine