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SINGAPORE: As the milk scandal in China continues, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is conducting spot checks on some 2,250 outlets like coffeeshops and bakeries, to ensure they are not using China-made milk or dairy products.
The week-long exercise should be completed by next Wednesday. The checks started on Tuesday.
The inspection came on the back of news that China-imported milk products contain melamine, a chemical used in plastics.
Products that contain melamine have since been recalled and Singapore has also banned all imports of milk and dairy products from China since September 19.
Melamine has caused the deaths of four children in China and sickened over 50,000 others.
A Jalan Bukit Merah bakery that was inspected by NEA officers said the shop uses only milk and dairy products made in Singapore.
Assistant manager of Qbread, Yeap Jin Choon, said, "We're not affected because we don't use (china-made) milk. So customers have confidence in our products."
A coffeeshop assistant at Wan Lee Food Court, Goh Kim Seng, said, "Since the scare in China, it's good that (there are) routine spot checks just to put things straight or I should say, in order."
Businesses say they have not suffered any losses as consumers do not seem too concerned.
A member of the public said, “I'm not worried so much but I'm not drinking any milk for now."
Another said, "(It is) up to your own self to believe (in the products), whether you want to be safe or you can take a risk."
Anyone found selling the banned products can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed for three months, or both.
Up to 50 hygiene officers have been going around places such as restaurants and bakeries to do spot checks, with one officer checking about 10 outlets everyday.
The aim of the inspection is to make sure that no milk or dairy products from China make their way into Singapore's food or drinks. Officers have not found any shops to be using such products so far.
- CNA/yt
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