DPH warns vs Chinese milk products

The Department of Public Health is warning the public not to buy any milk products with ingredients that came from China in the wake of findings that an industrial chemical has made its way into China’s dairy supplies, blamed for the death of four babies.

The health advisory, issued yesterday, says that milk or food products with milk-derived ingredients that originated from China could contain the chemical melamine. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder and casein.

DPH is also warning people not to eat imported milk-based sweets known as White Rabbit Creamy Candies. This product is sold in retail packs through Asian retailers, supermarkets and dairies. The British supermarket chain Tesco had removed this product off its shelves as a precaution amid reports that samples of the candy in Singapore and New Zealand had tested positive for melamine.

In Guam, the island’s health department has ordered the recall of “Mr. Brown 3-in-1” instant coffee mix because traces of the chemical melamine have been found in the product.

Recent news reports have also linked King Car products from Taiwan to the melamine contamination scandal.

So far, no infant formula from China has been found for sale in the CNMI. DPH is urging all CNMI vendors to remove any items containing milk products that originated in China.

In the case of White Rabbit Creamy Candies, DPH is advising anyone who has the product not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase or dispose of it.

“This product contains sufficiently high levels of melamine which may, in some individuals, cause health problems such as kidney stones. Currently, BEH is inspecting retail establishments throughout the CNMI to remove any product from the shelves,” said the department in its advisory.

Melamine has been found in infant formula and other milk products from 22 Chinese dairy companies. Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk because its high nitrogen content masks the resulting protein deficiency.

Inspection

DPH said it had initiated an environmental health inspection since last week, and health officials have been on the lookout for milk-based foods and infant formula from China. More than 70 stores have been inspected for the presence of products that might contain melamine. Additionally, a review of recent import records is underway.

The Saipan Tribune also did a cursory review of several store shelves and found no China-made milk.

Chinese baby formula tainted with the chemical has been blamed for the deaths of four infants and the illnesses of 53,000 others in China. Health experts say ingesting a small amount of the chemical poses no danger, but melamine can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure. Infants are particularly vulnerable.

There have been no cases of infant kidney stones in the CNMI as yet, DPH said. “No additional hospitalizations or clinic visits have been noted. At present, Public Health is confident that the children in the CNMI have not been affected by this problem,” said the department.

FDA-approved

The CNMI has a public law that forbids the importation of food products that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. All infant formulas must be approved by FDA before they are allowed for sale in the CNMI. This includes all formula available to WIC recipients as well.

“No formulas produced in China have been found in the CNMI. As a precaution, [the Bureau of Environmental Health] is working with retailers to make sure that no unapproved products from China have made their way to stores in the CNMI,” the department said.

DPH said the BEH is working closely with the FDA and will continue to work closely with other foreign regulators to share information throughout the investigation.

“DPH Bureau of Environmental Health continues to collaborate with the World Health Organization and other international medical and public health partners to share information regularly on this issue. The agency continues to monitor disease trends in case they indicate exposure to melamine,” it said.

King Car Products

BEH inspectors are also inspecting retail establishments for the presence of King Car items containing powdered non-dairy creamer.

DPH said it is working to ensure the safety of all King Car products, including “Mr. Brown” coffee, which might contain milk products contaminated with melamine.

King Car said in a statement issued yesterday that its canned Mr. Brown coffee drinks have consistently used milk powders from Australia or New Zealand that are free of melamine contamination.

At present, BEH has not found any of these items for sale in the CNMI.

“DPH will continue to provide regular updates as to the progress of our investigation. Although the overall risk to the general public is very minimal, DPH will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to maintain food safety in the CNMI. We will stay alert regarding this issue and continue to communicate with our regional partners and the retail owners in the CNMI to preserve the health of all CNMI residents,” the department said.

Call the Bureau of Environmental Health at 664-4870 for additional questions. [B][I](Saipan Tribune)[/I][/B]