MANILA, Philippines - A ban looms on milk products from China amid persistent reports that they are contaminated with the chemical melamine, the Health department said Monday.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they are now reviewing a list of milk products particularly from China that had tested positive for melamine content.
"Kailangang i-recall lahat yan kung may ebidensyang contamination ng melamine. Kailangan magkaroon ng advisory for a product recall or withdrawal (We will have to recall all stocks of those products if there is evidence of melamine. We will come out with an advisory for a product recall or withdrawal)," Duque said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Duque said they are drawing up a list of "safe" and "unsafe" milk products.
Also, he said they are checking the list of importers and companies that import milk from China. He said he will check the list with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
He said he was meeting Monday morning with officials of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to review the list of mlik products from China.
Products that tested positive will be banned to protect children from their ill effects, he said.
Earlier, BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez advised the public to avoid milk products from China, at least for now.
"Siguro stay away muna sila from products manufactured in China (Consumers should stay away for now from products manufactured in China)," she said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Gutierrez said the BFAD is collecting samples of milk from Metro Manila and other parts of the country for testing for possible melamine content.
For its part, the Trade department urged supermarkets to temporarily withdraw from their shelves milk products without BFAD approval.
Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya also reminded vendors of milk products that selling of milk products without labels is illegal.
"Huwag muna tayo bumili ng product na di kilala lalo ang walang tatak (Let us not buy products that do not have labels)," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.
She encouraged consumers to call the DTI hotline at 7513330. - GMANews.TV
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