PHILIPPINES: Health department releases names of milk-related products tested for melamine contamination

Record ID: 1525636

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Health department releases names of milk-related products tested for melamine contamination
  • Date: 4th October 2008
  • Summary: (W2) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 3, 2002) (REUTERS) PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III, PHILIPPINE FOOD AND DRUGS BUREAU DIRECTOR LETICIA GUTIERREZ, AND OTHER HEALTH OFFICIALS SEATED IN PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN IN PRESS CONFERENCE DUQUE READING NAMES FROM LIST ON PIECE OF PAPER DUQUE SHOWING NAMES OF MELAMINE-TAINTED PRODUCTS WRITTEN IN LIST GUTIERREZ LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE HEALTH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III SAYING: "I would suggest that that should be explored, especially because not only did these products harm the health of children and adults as well, but also the industry." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE FOOD AND DRUGS BUREAU DIRECTOR LETICIA GUTIERREZ SAYING: "If you will notice in the list, there are products also������� These are milk products that we already included in the testing to really find out, even if they are made or manufactured in other countries, if they are really good for human consumption." FACADE OF PHILIPPINE FOOD AND DRUGS BUREAU BUILDING, BUREAU ACRONYM SIGNAGE BEHIND PHILIPPINE FLAG IN MAST (W2) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (RECENT) (REUTERS) FOOD SECTION HEAD IN PHILIPPINES BUREAU OF FOOD AND DRUGS LOOKING AT CHINA-MADE MILK PRODUCTS PULLED OUT FROM STORES LAB ANALYSTS POURING PREPARING UNCONTAMINATED MILK SAMPLE UNCONTAMINATED MILK SAMPLE IN BEAKER MILK SAMPLES IN FLASKS VARIOUS OF ANALYSTS DOING TESTS LAB WORKER LOOKING AT COMPUTER VARIOUS OF LAB EQUIPMENT
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2008 09:37
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0WWSU1N2CEUDFO89FIBLAJ95
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The Philippine health department released on Friday (October 3) a list of milk-related products that have been tested for the presence of the chemical melamine.
    This comes on the heels of a tainted milk scandal in China which has affected tens of thousands of milk drinkers so far, and killed four children.
    Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III said at a news conference that two out of the 30 dairy products tested so far have revealed traces of melamine.
    Melamine, an industrial compound used in the production of resins and adhesives, has been found in various Chinese dairy products as a way of falsely boosting the protein count.
    The Chinese-made Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink were two products sold in Philippine markets that were found out to contain melamine through tests conducted by the Philippine food and drugs bureau.
    Duque said that administrative cases will be filed against the manufacturers of the offending products and the stores still selling them.

    "I would suggest that that should be explored, especially because not only did these products harm the health of children and adults as well, but also the industry," said Duque.
    Health authorities said that they are not solely focusing their investigation on Chinese products but on any imported items as well.

    "If you will notice in the list, there are products also������� These are milk products that we already included in the testing to really find out, even if they are made or manufactured in other countries, if they are really good for human consumption," said Leticia Gutierrez, director of the Philippine food and drugs bureau.
    Melamine which causes kidney stones and other complications when ingested.
    Dozens of countries throughout the world have already banned or recalled China-made milk products.
    Philippine health authorities said that so far they have received no reports of kidney problems that can be associated with consumption of melamine-tainted products.
    The health department maintained the blanket ban on Chinese milk, except for products already tested negative for melamine content.
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