South Korea Finds Melamine in Foods Imported From China

Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap

[Yonhap headline: "(LEAD) Melamine Found in Imported Confections From China"]

Seoul, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) – South Korea’s food safety agency on Wednesday put a temporary import ban on Chinese products containing powdered milk after tests on two confections revealed traces of the toxic chemical melamine.

Tests on “Misarang Custard” cake, which a Chinese firm produced on an original equipment manufacturing for South Korea’s Haitai Confectionery and Foods Co., were undertaken by the Korea Food & Drug Administration.

The agency said in a statement that melamine in the quantity of 137 parts per million was detected in the cakes that were produced in July.

In addition, “Milk Rusk,” imported from Hong Kong, revealed 7 ppm of melamine, said the agency.

Authorities immediately took measures for public safety, seizing about 95 per cent of the “Misarang Custard” products. The agency plans to announce the results of the tests on the two products on Thursday.

It also said it will prohibit imports of Chinese-made food products containing powdered milk until their safety is ensured.

An official at Haitai Confectionery said the company has yet to find out how widely the products have been distributed in the local market, and “will recall all of the products.”

Melamine has recently led to the deaths of five babies in China and the hospitalization of more than 13,000 others, after some Chinese firms added the chemical to watery milk to make it look higher in protein.

Originally published by Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 1309 24 Sep 08.

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