Candy that downed 25 Cebu kids had no expiry date - BFAD

The importer of the China-made candy that downed 25 students in Cebu last week may face charges after investigators found the product contained no expiry date. Radio dzBB reported Monday that local health officials pointed out the expiry date is a requirement for imported food items to be cleared for sale. Susana Madarieta, Health Department Central Visayas officer, said the finding has prompted the Bureau of Food and Drugs to conduct inspections of candy shops in the province starting Monday. She said the BFAD monitoring teams have instructions to check for expiry dates and BFAD registration seals on the candy packs being sold in the stores. The BFAD teams have instructions to confiscate candies that lack the expiry dates and BFAD seals, she added. Madarieta said the instructions stemmed from initial findings that showed the ube milk candies from China that downed 25 students in Madridejos town last week lacked the expiry date. Last weekend, the Cebu Integrated Provincial Health Office started started examining samples of the milk candies that downed at least 25 students in Madridejos town last Thursday. Earlier, authorities in Madridejos town had ordered the pullout of imported candies after the incident. Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente ordered the pullout following the incident at the San Agustin Elementary School. The candies, bought at a local sari-sari store, were given to Grade 4 students at a birthday party in the school. The students complained of stomachaches, vomiting and dizziness. Only last July, Philippine authorities tested "White Rabbit" candies from China for possible formaldehyde content. Madridejos is a fourth-class town in Cebu, with a population of 29,020 people in 5,275 households. - GMANews.TV