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China Daily: Formaldehyde In Kids Candy - Newest Treat From China -

Candy Incident Raises Concerns

By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-08 07:19

The government is deeply concerned by reports that some Filipino students have fallen ill after eating Chinese-made milk candies, the spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce said.

A special team of food safety experts will be sent to the Philippines if necessary to assist in the investigation, the spokesman said.

He declined to reveal the name of the candies.

Some 23 schoolchildren fell ill on Thursday after eating milk candies imported from China and were sent to hospital in Cebu, the Philippines, according to local reports. They were all discharged a day later, reports said.

Pending the results of the investigation into the incident, local stores have been asked to temporarily stop selling the candies.

In response, the Chinese government directed its Cebu consulate to immediately look into the matter and submit a report.

Late last month, the Philippines banned the sale of imported Chinese food products at school canteens in response to reports that the goods contained cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Among the products tested by the top food watchdog in the Philippines and found to contain formaldehyde were White Rabbit milk candies and Yong Kang Foods grape biscuits.

Formaldehyde, a colorless, flammable gas, has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research and as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/08/content_6155826.htm
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Monsters & Critics
Consumer Health News

Candy from China under testing for embalming chemical

Jul 20, 2007, 1:40 GMT

Singapore - A popular chewy candy from China is being tested in Singapore for the chemical formaldehyde, commonly used as a preservative in embalming the dead, health officials said Friday.

White Rabbit Creamy Candy, covered with edible rice paper, has been blamed for causing respiratory problems and raising the risk of cancer.

Samples were taken for testing by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) after officials in the Philippines decided to recall four China-made products, including White Rabbit candy, from shelves by the middle of next month, citing formaldehyde contamination.

None of the other three products is available in the city-state.

An importer of the candy has been bringing stocks of the milk- based product in from Shanghai.

White Rabbit's manufacturer, Guan Sheng Yuan, has disputed allegations of formaldehyde contamination. Its own tests found no traces of the chemical.

The AVA said it would issue a national recall if it had reason to believe the sweets contained high-risk contaminants.


© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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