BFAD declares biscuits brand melamine free

MANILA, Philippines - A local manufacturer’s whole line of biscuits has been cleared of melamine contamination, including a product variant earlier tested positive for the industrial chemical. The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has allowed Croley Foods Manufacturing Corp. to sell its popular Sunflower Brand biscuits which have all tested negative for contamination. "The ban has already been lifted because the products were cleared," BFAD Director Leticia Barbara B. Gutierrez told BusinessWorld in a telephone interview. The regulator on Monday banned the sale and distribution of Sunflower Brand Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich after the Center for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong found melamine in the biscuits. BFAD collected all variants of the Sunflower Brand for testing. Ms. Gutierrez said they will send a letter to Hong Kong’s CFS to relay the findings. She noted CFS tested five Sunflower Brand Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich, but only one tested positive for melamine. "We want to clarify with Hong Kong why there was only one sample that was positive. Our findings show that the products [including Sunflower Brand Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich] are safe to be eaten," Ms. Gutierrez said. BFAD said the verification of the findings of independent firm Qualibet Testing Services Corp. is still being finalized. The cleared products are: * Sunflower Brand Honey Grahams (whole wheat); * Sunflower Duo Cracker Sandwich (Peanut and Chocolate Cream); * Sunflower Brand Crackers with Real Cheese; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Chocolate Sandwich * Sunflower Duo Cracker Sandwich (Strawberry and Blueberry Cream) * Sunflower Brand Choco ’N Cream (Choco-Coated Strawberry Sandwich) * Sunflower Brand Crackers Onion-Garlic Flavor; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Lemon Cream Sandwich; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Strawberry Cream Sandwich; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Butter Flavor; * Sunflower Brand Graham ’N Creme (Healthy Whole Wheat); * Sunflower Brand Crackers Chicken Flavor; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Great Original Flavor; * Sunflower Brand Crackers Orange Cream Sandwich; and * Sunflower brand Crackers Mango Cream Sandwich. BFAD has so far banned JollyCow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk, Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk, Mengniu Drink and three variants of LOTTE biscuits. — E. N. J. David, BusinessWorld