BFAD clears Sunflower biscuit variants, lifts ban

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday lifted the ban on Philippine-made Sunflower Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich after the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) declared it melamine-free. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez said Health Sec. Francisco Duque III ordered the lifting of the ban on the distribution, sale and importation of Croley Foods Sunflower Crackers (Blueberry Cream Sandwich). The ban was imposed on October 27, in response to findings by Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) that Sunflower Blueberry Cream Sandwich has melamine. In a one-page list, the BFAD cleared all of Sunflower's 16 variants from melamine content, including: *Sunflower Brand Honey Crackers (Whole Wheat), expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Duo Cracker Sandwich (Peanut and Chocolate Cream), expiry date August 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers with Real Cheese, expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Chocolate Sandwich, expiry date August 2009; *Sunflower Duo Cracker Sandwich (Strawberry and Blueberry Cream), expiry date October 2009; *Sunflower Brand Choco 'N Crème (Choco-Coated Strawberry Sandwich), expiry date October 2009; *Sunflower Brand Cracker Onion-Garlic Flavor, expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich, expiry date February 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Lemon Cream Sandwich, expiry date May 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Strawberry Cream Sandwich, expiry date October 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Butter Flavor, expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Brand Grahams 'N Cream (Healthy Whole Wheat), expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Chicken Flavor, expiry date September 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Great Original Flavor, expiry date July 2009; *Sunflower Brand Crackers Orange Cream Sandwich, expiry date September 2009; and *Sunflower Brand Crackers Mango Cream Sandwich, expiry date October 2009. Last Saturday, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said Croley Foods Sunflower Crackers (Blueberry Cream Sandwich) was found to contain 3.2 parts per million (ppm) melamine. "We have informed the food trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling the products with unsatisfactory results. We have also sent warning letters to the retailers and the importers concerned. The CFS will take out prosecution if there is sufficient evidence," it said in a press statement. The sample tested was a big pack (270 grams) containing 10 small individual packs, with expiry date Dec. 5, 2008. The level of melamine detected was 3.2 ppm. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV