Published: Thursday October 22, 2009 MYT 1:46:00 PM
Plum problem overblown, according to association
By YUEN MEIKENG
PETALING JAYA: Only one out of the 18 dried plum and prune products that were said to have high lead content is sold locally, claimed the Malaysia Foodstuffs and Toys Merchants’ Association.
The association said the remaining 17 brands were only available for sale in the United States.
“The Health Ministry should emulate the Department of Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore and collect samples of products from the local market first upon receiving information on the said contaminated items from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” the association said in a statement Thursday.
“After conducting laboratory tests and if the lead content is confirmed in any particular brand or packing, only then should a statement be issued,” it added.
The AVA of Singapore was said to have made a sample testing of the market and confirmed that all dried plum or prune products conformed to its safety standards.
The association was responding to the ministry which on Oct 8 said it had restricted the sale of 18 types of dried plum and prune products from China, Taiwan and other Asian countries after high degrees of lead were detected.
The ministry’s monitoring of the products began after a US FDA report on Oct 1 alerted consumers to the dried fruit sold by 15 manufacturers due to lead contamination.
When contacted, Food Safety and Quality Division director Noraini Mohd Othman said the division was still conducting tests on the products and was constantly carrying out a surveillance of the local market.
“Nothing is concluded yet and when we are ready, we will issue a statement,” she said, stressing that none of the products were banned but that they were being held and taken for testing upon entering the country.
Asked whether it was true that only one of the 18 products was found in Malaysia, she said: “Checks are still ongoing and we are doing our very best to get results.”
Related Stories:
No ban on plums and prunes
Ministry restricts sale of imported dried fruits due to high lead content
Fruit sellers fear huge losses
Dried fruit from 15 companies on Level 5 alert (Update)
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