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Edna
future hangs on milk samples report from S’pore
By Uditha Jayasinghe
The Magistrates Court order restraining Edna
Chocolates from manufacturing or distributing chocolates is
expected to be lifted later this week if the milk powder samples
sent to Singapore, return with an “all clear”. Speaking
to The Bottom Line, Food Control Director- Health Ministry,
A. Madarasinghe stated that a milk powder container imported
from China had been apprehended by the Customs Department
around two weeks ago, under suspicion of containing melamine.
Officials suspected that the milk powder had been bought by
a local company for the manufacture of chocolates.
The detained milk powder is under investigation by the Food
Control branch of the Health Ministry. It is also under the
purview of the Consumer Affairs Authority, which had filed
for a Restraining order at the Magistrates Court, called on
Monday.
Samples of the suspect container had been sent to the Industrial
Technology Institute in Colombo and SGS in Singapore for testing.
“Usually, the report takes between 10-14 days to reach
us. Since it is an extremely expensive process that takes
Rs. 30,000 per sample, we monitor internet reports of what
other organisations and governments are doing internationally,
so that, the relevant importers can be requested to cancel
their orders, if the need arises. To date, we have only had
to notify one company, while all importers and officials have
been extremely cooperative,” he said. Madarasinghe insisted
that there was no cause for alarm, as most of the imports
were from New Zealand, India and Australia. Moreover, once
the report arrives in Sri Lanka, latest early next week, a
Food Technical Committee would be appointed to evaluate the
results and decide what steps would be taken. He added that,
future directives would be sent to importers subject to future
recalls of imported products.
“If the report is positive and the milk powder is contaminated,
then the committee will decide how it should be destroyed.
They could consider burial or using the powder for animal
feed, which would not be the case here but, it must first
come under the committee. Even if it is to be released, then
there must be committee approval,” he explained.
Munchee
is safe: CBL
Ceylon Biscuits Ltd (CBL), producers of Munchee biscuits,
said it did not use any Chinese milk products in its brands
and its products were safe for consumption.
The statement comes after Swiss authorities found traces of
melamine in Lemon Puff biscuits made by CBL. The findings
were announced on Monday. “CBL Group states categorically
that, they never used and are not using milk and milk products
from China, in the manufacture of any of their Group products,”
the company said in the release.
CBL said it followed stringent quality control measures in
accordance with international and local standards, materials
were tested before use, and its products met international
and local food regulations. CBL says all its products are
safe.
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