18 canned meat products test negative for melamine - DOH

MANILA, Philippines – The Health Department (DOH) on Monday announced that 18 canned meat products sold in the local market were tested negative for melamine contamination, a GMA Flash Report said.

Based on the laboratory test results from the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) as of October 17, the 18 melamine-free canned meat products are:

*Argentina Corned Beef Chunky, 190 grams;

*Chang Long Pork Luncheon Meat, 170 grams;

*Greatwall Brand Premium Ham Luncheon Meat, 340 grams;

*Gulong (China Well-Known Mark) Pork Luncheon Meat, 340 grams;

*Liberty Pork Luncheon Meat, 375 grams;

*Maling Canned Pork Luncheon Meat, 397 grams;

*Maling Chunky Corned Beef, 150 grams;

*Maling Pork Luncheon Meat, 170 grams;

*Maling Pork Luncheon Meat, 397 grams;

*Maling Premium Pork Luncheon Meat, 397 grams;

*Maling Vienna Sausage, 140 grams;

*Narcissus Brand Pork Mince with Bean Paste, 185 grams;

*Narcissus Brand Premium Luncheon Meat, 397 grams;

*Narcissus Brand Spiced Pork Cubes, 142 grams;

*Narcissus Brand Stewed Pork, 397 grams;

*Purefoods Chinese Style Luncheon Meat, 165 grams;

*Purefoods Corned Beef, 210 grams; and

*Shanghai Brand Chinese Luncheon Meat (New Budget Size), 165 grams.

The NMIS started testing canned meat products from China last week for possible contamination of the kidney stone-causing chemical.

For her part, Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) director Leticia Gutierrez said they expect the testing for canned meat products to be completed within the week.

"Ito na yung bulk. Kung meron mang natitira samin siguro more than 10 na lang," Gutierrez said in an interview over radio dzBB.

"Within the week baka matapos kami… Ongoing yung test," she added.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) through the DOH had earlier released four installments of its laboratory testing results on China-made milk and milk-based products for melamine content.

BFAD found 103 milk and milk-based products to be melamine-free, but confirmed melamine content in four products. Products that tested positive for melamine included: Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuit, JollyCow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk (more calcium & Vitamin D) 1 Liter, Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk, and Mengniu Drink.

The melamine scare erupted in September when health officials in China reported 54,000 illnesses, including four infant deaths, due to kidney stones and other renal failure resulting from milk tainted with melamine. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV