Latest test results of dairy product samples
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (October 5) released the latest batch of results of melamine tests on dairy products.
Results available today showed that of the 104 samples tested, 102 were satisfactory. These included milk powder, nutrition supplements for hospital use, frozen confections, chocolates, milk beverages, cakes, buns and cream soup.
Details of the two unsatisfactory samples are as follows:
1. Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg (expiry date: 2.11.2009); level of melamine detected – 6.9ppm.
2. Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg (expiry date: 23.1.2010); level of melamine detected – 56ppm.
Under the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2008, the legal limit for melamine in these products is 2.5ppm.
"The importer of Cadbury has earlier recalled 11 products of the brand from the local market. The CFS, in following up, has collected samples of two of these products. The importer later provided another seven samples of six products to the CFS for investigations and testing. Apart from the two unsatisfactory samples and one satisfactory sample announced today, test results for the other five products are satisfactory and have been announced. For the remaining three products, the importer has no stock in hand and the CFS has not found them in the local market.
"We have informed the trade of the test results. The importer concerned has already recalled the products on September 29. The CFS has sent a warning letter to the importer. It would take out prosecution if there is sufficient evidence," a spokesman for the CFS said.
According to 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. Transient excursion above the TDI of melamine would have no health consequences provided that the average intake over long period has not exceeded the TDI.
On the sample of Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate which was detected with a melamine level of 6.9ppm, the spokesman said a child weighing 10kg (about 3-year-old) would have to eat about 463.8g (about 77.3 small pieces) of the product a day to reach the TDI. For an adult with average body weight of 60 kg, he will need to consume about 5478.3g (about 913 small pieces) of the product a day before reaching the TDI.
For the sample of Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate which was detected with a melamine level of 56ppm, the spokesman said a child weighing 10kg (about 3-year-old) would have to eat about 57.1g (about 9.5 small pieces) of the product a day to reach the TDI. For an adult with average body weight of 60 kg, he will need to consume about 675g (about 112.5 small pieces) of the product a day before reaching the TDI.
"Based on the levels detected, the public is advised to stop consuming the products concerned," the spokesman said.
"So far, we have tested 48 samples of nutrition supplements for hospital use and all are satisfactory. We will continue to collect samples of dairy products and products with dairy ingredients for testing.
"Test results for some milk powder, soya drinks, yoghurt, butter, frozen confections, baby food, biscuits, cookies, milk and cream will be available tomorrow."
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/Sunday, October 5, 2008
Unsatisfactory results of testing of Melamine
Satisfactory results of testing of Melamine (Samples 1-37)
Satisfactory results of testing of Melamine (Samples 38-69)