No dairy imports from China
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
COLOMBO: The Food Control Unit of the Health Care and Nutrition
Ministry yesterday said there is no need for the Sri Lankan public to
entertain any fears over buying infant milk powder or any other milk
powder products sold in Sri Lanka as the country does not import milk
powder from China.
China's dairy industry is reeling from a tainted milk powder crisis
which is reported to have sickened more than 50,000 children with nearly
13,000 hospitalized with kidney problems. Four children have died.
The Health Ministry Food Control Unit's Assistant Director P.
Madarasinghe said Sri Lankan consumers can buy milk powder products
without any anxiety from the local market as they have no chance of
getting exposed to Chinese dairy products. There is no threat of danger
for the Sri Lankan public because milk powder products are imported from
countries like Australia, New Zealand and India, he explained.
Referring to the situation relating to other dairy products such as
ice cream and chocolate imported from other countries, Madarasinghe said
the Health Ministry's Food Control Unit tests samples of every food
product before they are released to the local market.
The Unit had started this system about six months ago on the
directions of Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.
The consumer food items are released after the Food Control Unit
issues a certificate of quality assurance, he said.
Referring to dairy products, he said milk food items are sent to the
Atomic Energy Authority for chemical and radiation tests before being
released for public consumption.
The Food Control Unit can pull out any food product from the market
if found unfit for human consumption. The Unit conducts special lab
tests on dairy food items that come from countries such as Singapore
which do not produce milk, Health Ministry sources said.
There is hardly any risk of the Sri Lankan public getting exposed to
China's tainted milk crisis under the circumstances, sources added. |
