SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)
has taken samples of dried fruit products sold in Singapore for
laboratory testing.
The move comes after a US Food and Drug Administration report last
week warned people not to consume dried fruit, including dried
plums and prunes, due to lead contamination.
Responding to queries from MediaCorp, AVA said the products have
not been pulled off the shelves as the agency is still awaiting the
lab results which will be out in a few days.
On Thursday, Malaysia's Health Ministry put dried fruit products
from China and other Asian countries on Level 5 alert because of
their high levels of lead.
With a Level 5 alert, the ministry will hold the products to test
them for lead content before they can be released into the
market.
The highest alert, Level 6, involves an immediate ban of the
product.
- CNA/vm