TheFood and Drug Administrationurged U.S. consumers to avoid all infant formula from China, after several brands sold in that country came under suspicion of being contaminated withmelamine, a chemical used in plastics. Officials said there have been reports from China of babies developing serious kidney problems as a result.
"We're concerned that there may be some infant formula that may have gotten into the United States illegally and may be on the ethnic market," said Janice Oliver, deputy director of the FDA's food safety program. "No infant formula from China should be entering the United States, but in the past we have found it on at least one occasion."
All U.S. brands of infant formula are safe, Oliver said. After hearing of the latest food safety scandal in China, theFDAchecked with formula manufacturers here to determine if they were receiving any ingredients from that country. They were not.
"We want to assure the American public there is no threat of contamination to the domestic supply," said Oliver.
There have been no reports of illnesses in the U.S., but officials are concerned that some Chinese formula may be on sale at ethnic groceries, particularly in places likeNew York,San Francisco,Los Angelesand Boston that have large populations of Chinese immigrants. The FDA is working with state officials to spread the word in immigrant communities.
Melamine is the same chemical involved in a massivepet food recalllast year. It is not supposed to be added to any food ingredients, but unscrupulous suppliers in China sometimes mix it in to make foodstuffs appear to be high in protein. Melamine is nitrogen rich, and standard tests for protein in bulk food ingredients measure levels of nitrogen.
TAG: FDA 美国 配方 消费者 中国
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删除 钱医生 (2008-9-17 08:54:07, 评分: 5 )