Singapore destroys contaminated Chinese milk products
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 September 2008 1508 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities sent its first batch of contaminated China-made milk items to Tuas Incineration Plant on Tuesday morning, a week after a nation-wide ban.

The 497 cartons of yoghurt ice-cream bars had tested positive for traces of melamine, the toxic chemical which killed four children in China.

Authorities had recalled these tainted products last week which were sold at grocery stores and mini marts islandwide.

The chemical melamine, normally used in making plastics, was added to milk supplies to give the appearance of higher protein levels, but it can cause kidney stones and kidney failure if ingested.

Alethea Nah, senior manager, Corporate Communications, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), said: "The last time AVA conducted such a similar exercise was back in March 2007 when we recalled the Peter Pan Peanut Butter due to contamination. About three truck loads were destroyed then."

More contaminated milk and dairy products from China are expected to be destroyed soon.

At the Singapore Food Industries, hundreds of candy bars are being quarantined until further notice.

The company, which has an annual turnover of over US$175 million in Singapore, said the candy bars were used by its bakery business.

But experts said the China milk scandal is not expected to rock the food manufacturing sector or raise costs in Singapore.

However, some small retailers our news team spoke to expect the price of milk from countries other than China to rise. They said the price trends will be clearer in the next two to three days.

Wong Mong Hong, deputy president, Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association, said: "Most of the manufacturers here buy their dairy products from Australia, New Zealand. China is not a major exporting country so the quantity of export especially to Singapore is negligible."

And with the upcoming Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali celebrations, retailers are anticipating higher demand during these festive seasons.

Singapore authorities have also ordered retailers to recall all food items containing China milk, including candies and biscuits.

Anyone found selling them can be sentenced to three months' jail and fined S$10,000. - CNA/vm