FDA to block Chinese milk products at U.S. border

The Food and Drug Administration today announced that it would be detaining at the border a wide range of Chinese products containing dairy ingredients until tests show they are not contaminated. The alert, which affects foods ranging from chocolates and candies to drinks and pet food, comes in the wake of the discovery in September that formula and other foods made from milk had been contaminated with the chemical melamine.

It is unusual for the FDA to take such a sweeping measure targeting imports from an entire country but the agency said the precaution was necessary to make sure that contaminated goods did not enter our food system. "The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food products is a recurring one," said the FDA order, posted on the FDA's Web site.

Essentially, as the Associated Press reported, the FDA action shifts the burden of proof to Chinese companies, which must now supply evidence that their products are safe. 

Since September, more than 50,000 infants in China have become ill, 13,000 have been hospitalized and at least four have died after consuming tainted infant formula.  In the past two months, melamine has been found in a range of products, including milk, eggs and fish feed. Companies in the United States have recalled several products, including nondairy creamer and a type of candy primarily sold in Asian markets, because of melamine concerns. For a full list of recalled items, check the list on the agency's Web site.

As we've written here before, unscrupulous milk producers add melamine to watered-down milk to artificially boost the apparent protein content. The U.S. does not import milk or infant formula from China, and no illnesses have been reported here. But authorities from California to Connecticut have found melamine-contaminated candies and drinks during inspections at Asian groceries.

Comments

[louise veffer]

it's about time.!!I was wondering if the whole population had to be sick before anyone would do something. I myself have stopped buying food which comes from China.

[sailingwindward]

There is more to this story, the do nothing, impotent FDA would not issue issue such a strong directive unless something else has happened that we will soon be aware of, like the fact that melamine has entered the U.S. food source at a tremendous rate, and we will find out that all of us have been at risk for many months, and the FDA has been trying to cover it up until now.