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.