Friday, September 26, 2008

ALERT- - - - RECALL: Coffee products may have melamine

Seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products manufactured in China are being recalled due to possible contamination with melamine, according to this release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Here are the ones that have been recalled:

  • Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
  • Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

So far, the FDA hasn't found any melamine contamination of milk-based products imported into the United States from China.

But it is advising caregivers not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants. And the FDA recommends avoiding White Rabbit Creamy Candy, based on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority finding that the candies have melamine contamination at high levels.

Here's the background from the FDA release:

On September 12, 2008, in light of reports from China of melamine contaminated infant formula, the FDA issued a Health Information Advisory to assure the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell such products in the United States.

That advisory also warned members of Chinese communities in the United States that infant formula manufactured in China, possibly available for purchase at Asian markets, could pose a risk to infants.

The FDA had contacted the companies who manufacture infant formula for distribution in the United States and received, from the companies, information that they are not importing formula or sourcing milk-based materials from China.

At the same time, the FDA—in conjunction with state and local officials—began a nation-wide investigation to check Asian markets for Chinese manufactured infant formula that may have been brought into the United States.

In particular, this effort focused on areas of the country with large Chinese communities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and New York. To date, investigators have visited more than 1,400 retail markets and have not found Chinese infant formula present on shelves in these markets.

The FDA also advises consumers not to purchase infant formula manufactured in China from Internet sites or from other sources.

The FDA has taken, and will continue to take, proactive measures to help ensure the safety of the American food supply. In conjunction with state and local officials, the FDA will continue to check Asian markets for food items that are imported from China and that could contain a significant amount of milk or milk proteins.

In addition, the FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, and beverages that could contain these ingredients from Chinese sources. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.

In addition to state and local governments, the FDA is working in close cooperation with Customs and Border Protection within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other federal agencies, and foreign governments."

Instant coffee blend pulled from shelves in Ottawa stores

Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen

The instant coffee blend imported from Taiwan and suspected of containing melamine was pulled from Chinese grocery stores in Ottawa by the Canadian importer yesterday.

Some types of Mr. Brown 3-in-1 instant coffee were recalled because they might contain the chemical, which is used in plastics, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said. Melamine was found in powdered milk in China and led to the deaths of four babies.

Toronto-based importer Thai Indochine Trading Inc. said the affected products were mostly in Western Canada, but those in Ottawa stores were pulled as a precaution. "The ones in Eastern Canada, the codes do not match with the production dates that we mentioned as being affected," said company president Sam Sum.

A check of several stores in Chinatown did not turn up the product, except at Phuoc Loi Grocery, at Somerset and Booth streets. A clerk said the importer called yesterday and asked that the product be taken off shelves.

Mr. Sum said about half a dozen Asian stores in Ottawa carried the product and complied with the request. Another product, Mr. Brown Iced Coffee in cans is not affected.

Mr. Brown 3-in-1 instant coffee is sold in 450 gram packages containing 30 bags. Mr. Sum said so far he has not heard of any consumers becoming ill.

Mr. Sum said customers should return any product to point of purchase.