SINGAPORE (AP): Singapore has found traces of a toxic chemical in five more Chinese-made food products, including the first non-dairy items that had milk as an ingredient, authorities said Wednesday.
Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, known as AVA, said that samples of Dutch Lady-brand banana and honeydew flavored milk, Silang-brand potato crackers and two kinds of puffed rice balls imported from China were contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure.
The crackers and rice balls were the first non-dairy products found with melamine, though they listed milk as ingredients.
Last week, authorities suspended the sale and import of all Chinese milk and dairy products after finding melamine in samples of a Yili-brand yogurt bar, Dutch Lady-brand strawberry milk, and White Rabbit-brand chewy candy manufactured in China.
The ban includes milk, ice cream, yogurt, chocolate, biscuits and candy, as well as any other products containing milk from China as an ingredient.
Melamine has been blamed in China for four infant deaths and illnesses in 54,000 who drank tainted milk powder. Chinese diary products have been banned by countries throughout Asia.
