AVA orders all Malaysia-made Julie's brand biscuits taken off shelves
Posted: 24 October 2008 2054 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has instructed importers and retailers to withdraw all Malaysia-made Julie's brand of biscuits from the shelves.

This came after AVA detected the industrial chemical melamine in 12 Julie's biscuit products imported from Malaysia.

AVA said there are 25 types of Julie's biscuits sold in Singapore, but as a precaution, it has decided to recall all Julie's biscuits.

Five other Malaysia-made biscuits are also affected. They are "Khong Guan Assorted Biscuits", "Khian Guan Biscuit Osborne", "Leo Gold Finger Choco", "Santa Chocolate Gold Fingers" and "Swan Chocolate Fingers".

AVA advises consumers who have bought the affected biscuits not to eat them.

AVA's tests also included various types of biscuits under the major brands of "Khong Guan" and "Meiji", as well as other traditional biscuits that are manufactured in Singapore. Melamine has not been detected in these products.

Three more China-made products have also been found to contain melamine. They are "Lotte Koala's March Cocoa Chocolate Biscuit", "Hello Kitty Strawberry Cream Filled Biscuit", and an unbranded industrial pack of non-dairy creamer which is not available in the retail market as it is meant for re-export.

AVA said the "Lotte Koala's March Cocoa Chocolate Biscuit" and "Hello Kitty Strawberry Cream Filled Biscuit" have been recalled since September 19.

The tainted products will be destroyed under AVA's supervision. The latest detection brings the total number of affected products to 33.

As of October 24, some 3,200 types of milk and milk products, chocolates, biscuits, non-dairy creamers and other products imported from more than 40 countries have been taken for laboratory analyses to check for melamine.

- CNA/ir