Japan recalls sweets in melamine scandal

[Guest guest]

Important - thought this is news of China - its effects are global. In india there is not much awareness of this hence no one is testing imports from China or checking products being produced locally. Candies, Sweets created with adultrated milk are harmful. Caution: Festive season approaching- This Diwali - give fruits to your freinds/relatives instead of artifical sweets and candies. Lokesh

 

 

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- A Japanese food corporation has recalled five products after determining they contained the chemical melamine that has been blamed for the deaths of four children and sickening thousands of others.

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese officials on Thursday pull the popular White Rabbit candies thought to contain contaminated milk.

 

 

 

Officials stresses though that there were no reports of anyone becoming ill from consuming the sweets, which were made with ingredients imported from China, according to a representative of Tokyo's Marudai Food. The recall was issued several days ago.

Tests found a ratio of 37 milligrams of melamine per kilogram of the products, the company said Friday.

Japan is the latest country to report products tainted with melamine after thousands of Chinese children fell ill. The illnesses were traced to infant formula to which the toxic chemical had been added in Chinese dairy plants.

Nearly 53,000 children in China have been sickened by the formula or other products containing melamine. Four babies have died, and five Hong Kong children have suffered melamine-related illnesses. Dozens of countries have banned or recalled Chinese milk products.

Hong Kong officials said Friday that a type of Heinz cereal and wasabi crackers were recalled after they were found to contain excessive melamine. Test results for another 40 samples of baby food are pending, said Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety.

Earlier Friday, the maker of a widely distributed Chinese candy linked to the melamine scandal said it would stop selling the confection in China. The manufacturer, Guanshengyan, had already recalled exports of White Rabbit Creamy Candies, and food-safety authorities worldwide have pulled them from shelves.

On Thursday, the European Union joined authorities worldwide in banning the import of Chinese milk products for children.