2nd Ld-Writethru: White Rabbit Candy Sales Halted Amid Melamine Investigation

2nd Ld-Writethru: White Rabbit candy sales halted amid melamine investigation

SHANGHAI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — The producer of China’s White Rabbit brand candy on Friday announced the suspension of domestic sales of its products, which are suspected of melamine contamination.

The Guanshengyuan company had previously recalled all exports, some of which tested positive for melamine in Singapore earlier this week.

Ge Junjie, vice manager of the Shanghai Guangming (Bright) Dairy and Food Company, which owns Guanshengyuan, said the suspension of sales of White Rabbit candy reflected “the company’s conscientious decision to protect consumers”.

The company’s candy is still undergoing tests for melamine by the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

The bureau could not provide the test results on Friday morning.

“We decided to halt all sales of White Rabbit candy, although the test results have not yet come out,” said Ge.

White Rabbit candy, first produced in 1959, is a household name in China, and is sold to more than 50 countries and regions.

Milk powder constitutes 45 percent of the White Rabbit candy ingredients, giving it its renowned creamy taste and texture, said a veteran employee of Guanshengyuan, who declined to be named.

He said the firm’s milk powder supply came both from the parent dairy company of Guangming and other suppliers, whose products met the state’s quality standards.

Guangming was among a group of major Chinese dairy producers, including Mengniu and Yili, involved in the ongoing scandal over melamine contamination.

Ge said the company had drawn a hard lesson from the melamine contamination found in its products.

He vowed the company would reinforce measures to ensure food safety and provide healthy, safe and high quality food to consumers.

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