2 Chinese milk brands test positive for melamine - DOH

(Updated 12:43 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health on Friday said that of the 30 milk brands and milk-based products so far tested by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), only two of them tested positive for melamine content. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said only Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink, which have labels written in Chinese character, were found to contain traces of the toxic industrial chemical. "Dalawa lang ang positive natin (Only two have come out positive so far) ... Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink, both in Chinese characters," Duque said in a press conference, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio. Immediately after releasing the names, Duque said they are imposing beginning today (Friday) a "total ban" on the sales of the two milk brands found tainted with melamine. In a separate QTV Balitanghali report, GMA News reporter Mark Salazar quoted Duque as saying in the news conference that any store found selling the two banned products will be ordered closed and charged for violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines. The DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry are already mulling on slapping complaints against the manufacturers and local distributors of the the two milk brands, the television report added. Meanwhile, 28 other milk and chocolate products - including those from industry giants that manufacture Nido Milk, M&M, and Snickers – were found negative for melamine content. "So, negative itong 28 products," Duque said, stressing that the list was still partial and that a complete one would be coming out Tuesday next week. Melamine-free Duque went on to enumerate the list of the 28 melamine-free products, which included among others: * Anchor Lite Milk * Anlene High Calcium, Low Fat Milk * Bear Brand Instant * Chic Choc Milk Chocolate * Farmland Skim Milk * Jinwei Drink * Jolly Cow Pure Fresh Milk * Kiddie Soya Milk Egg Delight * Lactogen 1 DHA Infant Formula * M&M Milk Chocolate Candy * M&M Peanut Chocolate Candy * Milk Boy * Nestagen 2 DHA Follow-up Formula * Nestagen 3 DHA Follow-up Formula * Nido 3 Plus Pre-bio with DHA * Nido Full Cream Milk Powder * Nido Junior * No Sugar Chocolate of Isomalt 2 Oligosaccharide (cocoa butter substitute) * Nutri Express Milk Drink * Pura Fresh Milk * Snickers (roasted in caramel nogut in thick milk chocolate) * Vitasoy Soya Milk Drink * Wahaha Orange * Wahaha Yellow * Want Want Milk Drink * Windmill Skim Milk Powder * Yinlu Milk Peanut * Yogi Yogurt Flavor Milk Drink Duque said he could not immediately say how much melamine was found in the two milk brands, but added such information would soon be available with the BFAD. He also said they would later say which product volumes of the banned milk brands had been subjected in the laboratory test. "We have to look into the record as to the registered volume because the volume can be checked or validated in the records that had been submitted to BFAD during product registration," Duque said. He also said so far no case of kidney problems linked to the intake of melamine-tainted milk had been so far reported. But the DOH chief said he would check anew with the different hospitals. "We still have no reports coming from the hospital, which we have ordered to report to us incidents of kidney problems that may have found association with intake of milk tainted with melamine," he said. Nevertheless, Duque still reminded the public to get in touch with their physicians if ever their infants begin to display unusual symptoms, specially those related to kidney problems. "We have the symptoms of infection, pain, fever, and pain in the parts of the body, the kidney, and in neighboring areas. If you have difficulty of urination," the Health secretary said. "If the infant dies for no apparent reason or if there is a loss of appetite, loss of weight, this should be brought to the hospital for proper consultation," Duque added. On the other hand, a separate report on dzXL radio said Duque stressed the government has not lifted the ban on other Chinese milk brands other than the two found positive. The dzXL report also quoted Duque as saying they are still testing more than 200 products. He said that only after they have completed testing all milk and milk-based products from China would they start examining other non-milk products. - GMANews.TV