Milk food packets should display chemical composition - President

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed health authorities to ensure that milk food importers clearly display the composition of the chemicals including melamine contained in the milk food in their packets to enable consumers select healthy food items for consumption.

He issued this directive when he met a delegation of the Mawbima Lanka Foundation at Temple Trees on Monday to discuss measures to increase indigenous food production and safeguard the health of the people, a communique issued by the Presidential Media Unit said.

Problems that have cropped up due to the presence of various chemicals in food items including milk food and measures to safeguard childrens’ health were discussed at length during this meeting. President Rajapaksa told the meeting that the Government would take all steps necessary to protect childrens’ health.

Among other matters discussed were programmes to encourage consumption of fresh milk and measures to induce the local dairy farmers, protect local industries and encourage competition in the local market.

Mawbima Lanka Foundation delegates said they hoped to place their views about imported food items before the Consultative Committee on Food. Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Presidential Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Mawbima Lanka Foundation President Ariyasheeli Wickramanayake and other officials attended the conference.