Don’t buy unlabelled bulk milk-FDB

Page 47
09-10-08

THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) says it has come to its notice that some business concerns are using unapproved routes to bring banned milk products from China into the country.
It has, therefore, urged the public not to patronise unlabelled bulk milk powder, milk products with suspicious-looking packaging, milk products whose prices have been reduced drastically, as well as milk products with defaced labelling (concealing the country of origin).
The Ministry of Health (MoH), on September 23, 2008, suspended the importation of all milk and milk products manufactured in China.
The suspension followed the confirmation of reports that milk and milk products manufactured in China were contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical used to manufacture plastics and fertiliser, which is said to affect the kidney and also cause cancer when consumed over a long period.
Thousands of babies in China were reported to have suffered acute kidney failure, with several fatalities, after consuming infant milk formulae contaminated with melamine, a situation that has raised a health alert in many countries.
The products affected by the directive in Ghana include infant formulae, powdered milk, liquid milk, candies, lollipops, cookies, cakes, milk tablets, yoghurt drinks, biscuits, toffees, chocolates, cream crackers and egg rolls.
The decision to suspend the importation of milk from China was taken in conjunction with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives, upon the advice of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB).
A statement signed by the Chief Executive of the FDB, Mr E.K. Agyarko, said despite the directive issued by the Ministries of Health, and Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI, on the ban on importation of infant formulae and other milk products, some businesses were smuggling them into the country.
“The general public is further advised to report to the board or the police anyone found attempting to repackage any product for sale to the general public,” it said, and assured the public that it was taking the necessary regulatory measures to ensure that milk products on the market were safe for consumption.