Japan: Melamine Found in Imported Chinese-Made Egg Cakes

Text of report in English by Japan’s largest news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, Oct. 1 Kyodo – Major trading house Kanematsu Corp. said Wednesday the toxin melamine has been detected in Chinese-made frozen cakes it imported, marking the second case in which the substance has been found in food products sold in Japan.

The industrial chemical – usually used for adhesives, paints and dishware – was detected in Macau Egg Tart Kanematsu marketed via JTB Trading Inc., a subsidiary of major travel agency JTB Corp.

Kanematsu said the quantity of melamine detected is extremely small – 1.4 parts per million – and there have been no reports of health damage, but the company has decided to recall the 289 packages that have been sold.

The product has been sold via JTB Trading’s website as a package containing 18 pieces of tart for 5,460 yen.

Kanematsu became the second company to sell food products contaminated with melamine in Japan, after Marudai Food Co. On Saturday, public health officials in Osaka Prefecture said they have detected melamine in food products that were recalled by Marudai due to fear they may contain Chinese-made milk tainted with the chemical.

Melamine is a chemical synthesized from urea and ammonia. Intakes of the chemical into human bodies can trigger formation of kidney stones.

Some food suppliers in China mixed melamine into milk they diluted with water in order to make the milk appear to be rich in protein.

Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1457 1 Oct 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.