Ban on China milk products affecting business of small retailers
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 September 2008 1924 hrs

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	Related News • "White Rabbit Creamy Candy" from China also tainted with melamine • AVA stops import & sale of milk and dairy products from China • AVA orders removal of "Yili" brand yoghurt as precaution

SINGAPORE : Supermarket chains in Singapore have taken more than 15 brands of products off their shelves in light of the recent ban on China milk products.

Items include yoghurt, ice-cream, candies and biscuits.

The supermarkets are also offering customer refunds.

Since the recall was announced on Friday, some smaller grocery stores have seen sales dip by about 20 per cent.

One grocery store in central Singapore has lost count of the number of China milk products it has taken off the shelves.

From candies to chocolates and biscuits, the store assistant said she has removed more than 10 brands so far.

The ban has also affected business.

Nelly Cheng, Good Luck Provision Shop, said: "A few customers came to return affected products, like Dutch Lady milk, after watching advisories on TV. We had to refund them as they insisted the milk was tainted."

The store will be returning the items to suppliers.

There are over 200 minimarts and provision stores all over Singapore. And most of them said that they started removing the affected items from the shelves last week. They said these items are usually popular with teenagers and children.

One provision shop owner, Din, said he removed the affected items based on information from news reports.

He said: "(There was) no letter from the AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority). We know that some sweets - (like) the White Rabbit Candy - (are affected) so we just took them off the shelves."

Viewers have also alerted Channel NewsAsia to an anonymous text message listing specific food products affected by the ban.

It is unclear who sent it out, but consumers in general said they have lost confidence in China-made products.

One consumer commented: "How far do we go? Do we say that 'Oh, I consumed one (White Rabbit Candy) last year and I am in danger or my children are in danger.' So what's next?"

Another said: "I just had Snickers and M&Ms before I read the newspapers. So I was like 'oh no', but then it is not going to affect me. I will just not buy them (from now on)."

The AVA said that with the possibility of China milk being used in so many products, it is unable to issue an exhaustive list.

But it has advised retailers to remove all milk-based products - including candy and chocolates - manufactured in China.

So far, the AVA has only singled out three items they tested to be contaminated with melamine. These items are Yili brand "Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt Flavoured Ice Confection", "Dutch Lady" brand of strawberry flavoured milk, and "White Rabbit Creamy Candy". - CNA/ms