Retailers continue to ignore warning on tainted biscuits
Mon, Oct 20, 2008
NST
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Health Ministry has already sent out a warning that 18 types of Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuits have tested positive for excessive melamine. But retailers continue to ignore this and are still selling them.
Random checks by the New Straits Times showed that some convenience stores and sundry shops in the city still have the biscuits on their shelves.
The biscuits come in various sizes and are priced between RM2 and RM14 a pack.
The ministry announced on Friday that it had found an excessive level of the chemical in the biscuits. It warned retailers of stern action if they were found selling the biscuits.
One convenience store attendant merely shrugged his shoulders when asked why the Khong Guan biscuits were still being sold.
Apart from the Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuits, the other banned products are the White Rabbit Creamer Candy, Ego White Rabbit Creamy Candy, Taro brand biscuits and Silang brand Potato Crackers.
Another manufacturer, Munchy Food Industries Sdn Bhd said it was complying with the authorities after two of its biscuits -- Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter and Mini Crackers with Cream Cheese -- were found to contain excessive levels of melamine in Hong Kong.
Company chief executive officer C.K. Tan re-emphasised that none of its products contain any dairy-based ingredients from China. "We only source these ingredients from Australia and France.
"As a reputable 18-year-old homegrown manufacturer of confectionaries with a strong international brand presence, we have consistently viewed consumer food safety as a top priority. We will continue to uphold this without any compromise, " he said in a statement released yesterday.
He said the company had earlier submitted the products for testing to independent certification agencies, namely Chemical Laboratory (M) Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, Pacific Lab Services of Zagro Singapore Pte Ltd, which is affiliated to Zuellig Pharma, and Mitsubishi Laboratories Pte Ltd in Japan.
All test results so far confirm that Munchy's products tested to date are safe for consumption, Tan said.
He added that Munchy Food Industries would act in accordance with the findings of the local authorities and keep the public informed while their products were being tested by the Health Ministry.
