Ministry introduces technology to detect melamine in milk food
Nadira Gunatilleke
The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has introduced the latest
technology for detecting melamine in milk food imported to Sri Lanka.
The technology is available for both State and private sector at a very
low price, a Ministry spokesman said. He said technology is available
free of charge for the State sector at the Government Analyst’s
Department. The technology produces quick and accurate results.
|
Melamine |
| * Melamine is
an organic base and a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine
skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66 percent nitrogen by
mass and, if mixed with resins, has fire retardant properties.
* Melamine is also a metabolite
of cyromazine, a pesticide. |
Private sector companies can obtain the service by paying Rs. 5,000.
Sri Lanka now does not require the service of foreign laboratories to
detect melamine in milk food. Milk food contaminated with melamine
became an issue in Asia and as a result, it became an issue in Sri
Lanka.
As a result, the Ministry sent a large number of milk powder samples
from various brands to foreign laboratories to detect melamine.
The Ministry spent over Rs. 50,000 per one milk powder sample and
spent a large amount to get milk powder samples tested in foreign
laboratories. |
