Contaminated milk powder brand Sanlu not imported into
S'pore
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority
(AVA) has confirmed that the country does not import the Sanlu
brand of infant formula. That's the milk powder brand that has been
hit by a contamination scandal in China and has affected some 1,253
children in the country so far.
Dairy giant Fonterra, which owns 43 per cent of Sanlu, said no milk
from China is used in its products sold elsewhere.
Its brands sold in Singapore include Anlene, Anmum, Fernleaf,
Chesdale, Kapiti and Mainland.
It added that all its milk powder and yogurt products sold here are
made in Malaysia from New Zealand whole milk powder.
David Ross, general manager, Fonterra (Singapore), said: "All
Fonterra products available on the shelves have been subjected to
the most rigorous quality controls in every aspect of production
from our high-quality farmers milk right through the manufacturing
and distribution process.”
The AVA said it only approves infant formula which have a health
certificate and laboratory test report.
It advises consumers who had purchased the Sanlu product outside of
Singapore to stop using it immediately.
Sanlu milk powder was found to contain an agent called Melamine,
which causes kidney stones to form.
The Xinhua news agency said two brothers in northern China's Hebei
province -- who are among the 19 detained -- had been formally
arrested for allegedly selling three tonnes of contaminated milk
per day from their station.
The duo allegedly decided to add melamine after Sanlu repeatedly
rejected their milk for failing to meet standards.
Melamine, which is used for making plastics and glues, may have
been added to make the milk appear it contained more protein than
was actually the case, Chinese media have suggested.
Chinese media reported that two babies, both in northwest China's
Gansu province, had now been confirmed dead after drinking the
contaminated milk powder. -CNA/vm