Melamine Contamination in food

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FDA Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement

September 26, 2008 Media Inquiries:

Stephanie Kwisnek, 301-827-0955

Consumer Inquiries:

888-INFO-FDA

 

 

FDA Updates Health Information Advisory on Melamine Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers that

seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products are being

recalled by the Taiwanese company, King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd.,

due to possible contamination with melamine. King Car Food Industrial

Co. used a non-dairy creamer manufactured by Shandong Duqing Inc.,

China, which was found to be contaminated with melamine. The recalled

products are:

Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)

Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

The FDA recommends that consumers not consume any of the above Mr.

Brown instant coffee and milk tea products. The FDA also recommends

that retailers and foodservice operators remove the products from sale

or service.

As of September 25, 2008, the FDA testing of milk based products

imported into the United States from China has not found melamine

contamination.

The FDA is working with regulatory agencies in other countries. The

New Zealand Food Safety Authority reports that its testing of White

Rabbit Creamy Candies has shown melamine contamination at high levels.

In light of the widespread contamination of milk and milk-based

products in China and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority's finding,

the FDA recommends that consumers not eat White Rabbit Creamy Candy

and that retailers and foodservice operations remove the product from

sale or service.

To date, the FDA is not aware of any illnesses in the United States

stemming from consumption of either White Rabbit Creamy Candy or the

Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products.

Individuals who have experienced any health problems after consuming

either White Rabbit Creamy Candy or any of the identified Mr. Brown

coffee and tea products are advised to contact their health care

professional.

Background

On September 12, 2008, in light of reports from China of melamine

contaminated infant formula, the FDA issued a Health Information

Advisory to assure the American public that there is no known threat

of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have

met the requirements to sell such products in the United States. That

advisory also warned members of Chinese communities in the United

States that infant formula manufactured in China, possibly available

for purchase at Asian markets, could pose a risk to infants.

The FDA had contacted the companies who manufacture infant formula for

distribution in the United States and received, from the companies,

information that they are not importing formula or sourcing milk-based

materials from China.

At the same time, the FDA—in conjunction with state and local

officials—began a nation-wide investigation to check Asian markets for

Chinese manufactured infant formula that may have been brought into

the United States. In particular, this effort focused on areas of the

country with large Chinese communities, such as Los Angeles, San

Francisco, Seattle and New York. To date, investigators have visited

more than 1,400 retail markets and have not found Chinese infant

formula present on shelves in these markets.

The FDA also advises consumers not to purchase infant formula

manufactured in China from Internet sites or from other sources.

The FDA has taken, and will continue to take, proactive measures to

help ensure the safety of the American food supply. In conjunction

with state and local officials, the FDA will continue to check Asian

markets for food items that are imported from China and that could

contain a significant amount of milk or milk proteins. In addition,

the FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of

milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk,

such as candies, desserts, and beverages that could contain these

ingredients from Chinese sources. Milk-derived ingredients include

whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder,

and casein.

In addition to state and local governments, the FDA is working in

close cooperation with Customs and Border Protection within the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,

other federal agencies, and foreign governments.

 

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01891.html