Food safety issues continue to plague China. Taiwan’s Department of Health has been randomly testing food made in China containing ammonium bicarbonate (a “raising agent” used in baking, similar to baking soda). The Taipei Times reports that two batches of fried bread sticks were the only food products tested that contained melamine:
[Deputy Minister of Health Cheng Shou-hsia] said the two batches contained very low levels of melamine and that health officials would continue to supervise the production of these products and conduct random testing to ensure businesses are using safe food additives.
Businesses such as bakeries and food stands that do not use Chinese-made baking ammonia as a food additive are allowed to put up signs that say “No Chinese-made baking ammonia added, customers need not worry,” Cheng said.
Ammonium bicarbonate imported from China’s Huaer Chemical Company was discovered to contain 70ppm – 300ppm melamine; more than 200 tonnes are still in circulation in Taiwan.
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This tainted ammonium bicarbonate was also exported to Malaysia, where eighteen types of biscuits have been found to contain melamine.
[Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai] said 18 out of 47 products had been found with excessive levels of melamine and the manufacturer has been instructed to recall them.. “All factories that use ammonium bicarbonate from China will have their products tested. We will test all biscuits in the country,” he said.
See also the news video: Melamine: Khong Guan, Khian Guan Biscuits Recalled
See also related CDT news on food safety.
