In view of public concerns over the dairy product incident, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has collected for testing three samples of international brands of milk powder which are manufactured on the Mainland and available locally. These three samples had been tested negative of melamine and the results were announced earlier.
The CFS further took 27 samples of milk products for tests over the weekend and holiday, including 11 samples of three Taiwan-produced canned drinks and 16 Mainland-produced fresh milk, ice-cream, ice-cream bars, and yogurt. Among these, one sample of yogurt flavoured ice bar was found to contain trace amount of melamine.
"The level of melamine detected in the ice bar sample was 15ppm. Based on this level, normal consumption will not pose major health effects. However, it is not advisable for small children to eat the ice bar," a CFS spokesman said today (September 16).
Details of the product are as follows: Natural Choice Yogurt Flavoured Ice Bar with Real Fruit (net volume: 90ml); Manufacturer - Shanghai Yili AB Foods Co. Ltd.
Regarding effects on humans, according to the standards of US Food and Drug Administration, the safety reference value (i.e. tolerable daily intake) for melamine is 0.63 mg per kg of body weight per day.
Results of risk assessment indicated that a 60-kg adult who consumes more than 2.5 kg (i.e. 22 pieces) of the ice bar in question per day would have the dietary exposure to melamine exceeding the safety reference value, whereas a 30-kg child who consumes more than 1.25 kg (i.e. 11 pieces) of the ice bar per day would have the dietary exposure exceeding the safety reference value.
The spokesman added that, as the level of melamine detected is very low, it is possible that the ice bar was contaminated by utensils in the production process, and the CFS is contacting the manufacturer for more information. The importer will recall the product concerned.
The CFS will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure food safety.
Attachments:
List of food samples taken for tests
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200809/16/P200809160254.htm