2nd LD) S. Korea orders recall of tainted snacks

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 9-10; ADDS with information on butter inspection in para 13)
By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities ordered a local foodstuffs company Thursday to recall two of its snacks found to be contaminated with an industrial chemical that can cause kidney damage.

The Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) said the recall includes the
"Misarang Custard" cake sold by Haitai Confectionery and Food Co. and "Milk Rusk"
imported from Hong Kong.
"Both cookies sold on the market are to be recalled and destroyed regardless of
whether or not they have been contaminated," a KFDA official said.
Of the 14,277 kilograms of Milk Rusk imported, only 1,856kg may have been
contaminated, although most have already been sold on the market, according to
the official. As for Misarang Custard, 100,483kg were imported this year with
24,615kg likely to contain the melamine chemical.
"Misarang Coconut" by Haitai has also reportedly been ordered off store shelves
because there was risk that melamine may have been used as an ingredient.
The cookies are made in China under a original equipment manufacturing (OEM)
arrangement.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that can cause kidney damage in humans and
even death in severe cases. It is used widely in kitchen utensils like ladles. If
added to food it can fraudulently increase apparent protein content levels,
translating into higher prices.
Some experts, however, have cautioned that there is no definitive proof that
melamine presents a serious health hazard if absorbed in small quantities.
The chemical recently caused an uproar in China, where dozens of food
manufacturers sold baby formula and dairy products contaminated with the harmful
chemical. Chinese media reported the deaths of at least four infants and the
hospitalization of more than 13,000 other people.
Reflecting consumer concerns, the KFDA under the Ministry for Health, Welfare and
Family Affairs, said it will ban imports of Chinese processed food made with
dairy products for the time being. The agriculture ministry asked China on Sunday
not to export dairy-based processed food until the extent of the melamine problem
can be better gauged,
The KFDA, meanwhile, said it has tested 124 snack foods that listed Chinese dairy
products as an ingredient, and found problems with the two.
The watchdog said that as of Sept. 18, South Korea imported 428 types of food
products totaling 18,195 tons that listed milk as an ingredient.
Quarantine and health experts said earlier in the day that they checked 32 tons
of butter that were imported after February, but found no traces of melamine.
Seoul has stepped up monitoring of all dairy-based products in response to
consumer demands.
The discovery of melamine is causing local confectionery companies to make
efforts to reassure consumers that their products are safe to eat.
Lotte Confectionery Co. said that while it operates a plant in China, the milk it
uses is imported from Canada, while most snacks made in South Korea rely on dairy
ingredients brought in from Australia and New Zealand.
Orion Corp. said it too operates plants in China, but said it uses French
powdered milk.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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