News

Home > News > Nation

Published: Monday October 20, 2008 MYT 5:01:00 PM
Updated: Monday October 20, 2008 MYT 8:17:06 PM

Melamine: Biscuit maker ordered to recall tainted products

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH

MUAR: The Johor Health Department has directed the Khong Guan biscuit company in Senai to recall 12 types of biscuits which had been tested last week and found to contain high levels of melamine.

State Women, Family, Welfare and Health Committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said the biscuit varieties are Biskut Soda, Biskut Lemon Puff, Biskut Pof, Biskut Butter Cream, Biskut Baby Fish, Biskut Health Cracker, Biskut Cocoa Puff, Biskut Sandwich Oren, Biskut Family Crackers, Biskut Bentuk Binatang, Biskut Rokok and Biskut Mini Puff.

These were the same 12 types of biscuits Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had announced on Oct 16 to have contained excessive amounts of melamine from the raising agent ammonium bicarbonate imported from China and used to produce the biscuits.

“We had seized 107 metric tonnes of the products, valued at about RM561,000, from the factory on Oct 14,” she told reporters here on Monday.

“We want the factory to recall those contaminated products from all shops and retail outlets throughout Johor.”

Dr Robia said market survey showed that most Khong Guan biscuits were distributed to shops and mini-markets, including in villages and housing schemes.

She also urged the public to report to the nearest Health Department offices if they spotted the contaminated products on sale and warned them not to buy the products.

She said the department would seize the products and book the manufacturer under Section 13C of the Food Act if it failed to recall the products within two weeks.

“The manufacturer can face a maximum fine of RM100,000 or 10 years jail or both if found guilty,” she added.