Malaysia has confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning. Tests confirmed that he was infected with the Influenza A(H1N1) virus. The case made Malaysia the 36th country under WHO list to be affected by the virus.
Related posts:
* Acute shortage of medical personnel in Kapit
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 3
* Malaysian laboratories slow in melamine content testing
* Hospitals slow post-mortem service
From theStar
Malaysia confirms first case of A(H1N1) flu (Update)
By FOONG PEK YEE
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.
All passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.
“Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.
Liow said Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who is now the acting Health Minister would hold a press conference with the deputy health director general Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat at Putra Jaya at 3pm
Meanwhile, A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalised on Thursday for fever, sore throat and body aches.
Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition, it said.
Ismail said the ministry had contacted members of his family but they have not been placed under quarantine.
Ismail said his department was taking steps to protect public health and that there was no reason to panic.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that a man from Bukit Mertajam held under observation at the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital has been declared free of Influenza A (H1N1).
"We just got a report that the blood test on the 26-year-old man was negative," State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said when contacted by Bernama Friday.
A test on a sample of his blood had been sent to Kuala Lumpur.
The man was kept for observation Thursday after he was found to have fever and symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) on his return from the United States.
Two weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) but a blood test also showed up negative.
Government medical services in Sarawak is going downhill. Not only there is overcrowding in Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching, Kapit is now hit with an acute shortage of medical personnel.
Malaysia seem to be more engross in the political doldrums in Perak or protesting about the teaching of Maths and Science in English. And if the government think there is money, they send a space tourist to space and budgeting for billion ringgit purchase of new helicopters.
Related posts:
* Why Malaysian seeking medical help overseas
From TheBorneoPost
Only five medical officers for 120,000 Kapit folk
By James Ling
KAPIT: There is an acute shortage of medical personnel in Kapit Division with just five medical officers (MOs) and one surgeon attending to a population of 120,000.
The situation was further compounded early this week, when three Kapit Hospital MOs were sent for a course outstation from Monday to Thursday (March 2-5), leaving just one MO and a surgeon during that period.
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) Kapit branch chairman Edward Manggah called on the government to act immediately and assign more MOs to Kapit.
He said the lack of doctors was a nightmare for those seeking medical treatment.
To illustrate his point, Edward said his grandson had gone to the polyclinic for treatment on Thursday at 7.30am and was only attended to around noon because there was only one MO and hundreds of patients waiting their turn.
“We can’t refer our sick people to the nearest hospital like Sibu Hospital, which is better equipped with many specialists within the day because we have no road link to other towns.
“We have to depend on the FDS (Flying Doctor Service) for medical evacuations and most of the time these are not successful because there’s no seat or the flight is cancelled due to cloudy weather,” said Edward.
He added that the lack of manpower was also taking a toll on medical personnel in the division.
“The problem is there are not enough doctors. The poor doctor has to work round the clock. He serves not just office hours from 8am to 5pm, but on call. In short he works 24 hours a day,” he said.
Edward, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Pelagus Division secretary, suggested the government offer special allowances and free passage once a year as incentives for senior civil servants to work in Kapit.
“Like Sibu Hospital, there are a lot of doctors because of the good facilities. They can fill the quota easily because doctors are willing to serve there. But Kapit is a different scenario,” he said.
Kapit Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Kho Chiaw Chai said the Ministry of Health must address the issue of unfair distribution of MOs throughout the country.
“I know a small town in Perak known as Sungai Siput near to Ipoh. A small district with a small population, but the hospital there is served by 11 MOs, meaning to say the quota is fully filled.
“So actually there is an unfair distribution of MOs. I think the ministry has to study the root cause,” said Kho.
Kapit Coffee Shop and Restaurant Owners Association (KCROA) chairman Ma Tian Ho also expressed disappointment with the current situation.
“The government has put up the physical facilities and equipment, but they are under utilised. You see Song Polyclinic costs RM15 million, Beletih Polyclinic RM19 million and now Belaga Polyclinic is RM17 million.
“What we want is the manpower. You see there are no MOs in Song or Belaga. Kapit Hospital has four MOs and a surgeon, Beletih Polyclinic one MO, Song Polyclinic none and Belaga Clinic none,” said Ma.
When contacted, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Economic Planning) Larry Sng said he has raised the issue with the State Health Department and they had assured him that they will transfer a doctor from Sarawak General Hospital to serve here.
“This is just a temporary measure until more doctors are trained and qualified to serve in Kapit.
“I understand that there is an acute shortage of doctors and surgeons throughout Sarawak. Nonetheless I urge the Health Department to quickly address this issue,” said Sng.
“I feel most sympathetic towards the existing medical staff who are working tirelessly to attend to the needs of the people. But how much can each doctor do when he or she has only two hands,” he added.
My first post on the overcrowding at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) was posted in Apr 2008. It has been almost a year and there is still no news. Kuching residents has repeatedly called for the setting up of another general hospital to complement the present overworked SGH.
Many complaints received are about the lack of facilities at the SGH, which were the cause of many a frustration among the people.
SGH also lacked certain facilities and this has somewhat caused patients to endure longer appointment dates. Members of the public also had to go through the hassle of getting a parking space in the cramped hospital compound.
So while millions has been thrown into the space program and to buy frogs in Perak, the federal government is still closing their ears and eyes.
Related posts:
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 2
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded
From TheBorneoPost
Another general hospital urgently needed
By Puvaneswary Devindran
KUCHING: City folk are yearning for an additional general hospital for quite sometime now but nobody seems to know when it will ever materialise.
The latest one to join in the chorus is the central youth of Sarawak United People’s Party, which called for the setting up of another general hospital to complement the present overworked Sarawak General Hospital.
SUPP youth chairman Sih Hua Tong said they had received many complaints about the lack of facilities at the SGH, which were the cause of many a frustration among the people.
“They complained that SGH lacked certain facilities and this has somewhat caused patients to endure longer appointment dates,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said members of the public also had to go through the hassle of getting a parking space in the cramped hospital compound.
He said gratitude and appreciation no doubt should go to the health workers, and the people knew that the hospital was doing its best to cater to their needs but one general hospital was simply not enough.
“We urge the federal government through the Health Ministry to quickly set up another general hospital to provide better medical facilities to the people,” he said.
He hoped Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai would come here to see for himself the situation first-hand at the SGH.
The need for a second general hospital has been making headlines in many local newspapers of late.
Last year, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud announced the need for the city to have two more general hospitals – one to be located between the city and Santubong and the other, in rapid growing Samarahan.
He said plans for these hospitals had to be drawn up as soon as possible because by 2020, this city would have a population of about a million people.
“It is an open secret that Kuching is in urgent need of another general hospital. This is further compounded by the fact that the hospital is a specialist referral hospital in the state.
“Although the newly refurbished wings is appreciated, this still does not solve the age-old problem of having not enough beds.
It was also reported in January last year that the best estimates put the number (of bed) at around 800, which is far from adequate with the city’s population.
In May last year, the Health Minister on his visit to the hospital said the government was looking at two options to solve overcrowding at the hospital. One was to build a second public hospital and the other one was to acquire an existing facility.
Liow said the authorities were studying these options although the long-term plan was that another hospital might be needed to complement SGH.
Besides SGH, there are three other hospitals in the city; Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Kuching Specialist Centre, and Timberland Medical Centre. All are either privately run or government linked.
The proposed expansion of Miri Kidney Dialysis Centre (which as established in 2004) will need additional RM3.5 million to construct. The new building is crucial with increasing number of patients registered and undergoing dialysis in Miri. The centre is also receiving patients from the dialysis centre in Miri Hospital.
One wonders why is the state government or the Ministry of Health not chipping in this project. Probably they have contribute but the amount is peanut. The federal government is very ambitious to spend hundred of million of Ringgit to send a space tourist to space but our medical welfare is still in a poor state.
From TheBorneoPost
Centre needs another RM3.5 million
By Anthony Joseph
New building crucial with increasing number of patients registered and undergoing dialysis, says chairman
MIRI: The proposed expansion of Miri Kidney Dialysis Centre will need at least RM3.5 million to construct.
Centre chairman Lee Kim Shin who is also Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication, disclosed that the new building was crucial with the increasing number of patients registered and undergoing dialysis at the centre.
Earlier, he received a donation of RM35,000 from the management of Dynasty Hotel through their charity fund.
Anticipating the increase in the number of patients, Lee disclosed currently there were 190 patients at the centre with another 20 still on the waiting list.
The centre would be running full capacity once those on the waiting list were accepted, he added.
Apart from that, the centre is also receiving patients from the dialysis centre in Miri Hospital.
It costs RM2,000 a month for a patient undergoing 13 treatment in the centre while in a private medical centre, it is more than RM3,000. Most of the patients at the centre are of the low-income group.
Lee said the generosity of the public, non-governmental organisations and bodies and corporate bodies in Miri had enabled the centre to provide dialysis at a very minimal cost of RM1 per treatment.
Commending the hotel, Lee said that the donation was timely as the centre run by Malaysia Red Crescent Miri Chapter was currently raising fund for its expansion.
Meanwhile Dynasty Hotel general manager Dennis Ngau disclosed that the money was raised through their annual charity events such as jogathon and food fair.
The hotel’s charity fund has donated over RM165,000 to the centre since its inception in 2004.
The less fortunate among the society have also benefited from the fund, through their festive goodies giveaway during Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya in collaboration with the Welfare Department.
The fund was set up with the main objective of giving back to the society and fulfilling their corporate duty in term of charity works, said Dennis who thanked the public and corporate organisations for their unfailing support for their charity fund.
For this year, the next charity run has been tentatively scheduled for July and the food fair, November.
Dr Chua Soi Lek, MCA deputy president suggested that the Health Ministry should accept tests done by Singapore laboratories for melamine content on locally manufactured biscuits as the results are faster.
Stating that the five laboratories in the country could not cope with the needs of the industry and it took weeks to obtain the test results but only two days in Singapore.
Read also Melamine Testings Too Slow
Local biscuit manufacturers here have to wait for the results before getting clearance to export their biscuits. Before the melamine scare in China, the industry exported RM600mil worth of biscuits per year while the domestic market was about one to two times more.
Due to the melamine scare, the export market dropped by 50% while domestic consumption is also down by 30% to 40%.
A tiny island of Singapore can produced the test results in two days so why it takes at least two weeks in Malaysia ? This proved again that Malaysia have first world facilities but third world workers. Read: too many laboratories staff shaking their legs or too many of them doesn't know how to operate the melamine testing equipments.
From TheStar
Soi Lek: Accept Singapore melamine tests
By NG SI HOOI
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry should accept tests done by Singapore laboratories for melamine content on locally manufactured biscuits as the results are faster, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Stating that the five laboratories in the country could not cope with the needs of the industry, he added that it took two weeks to obtain the test results but only two days in Singapore.
“The manufacturers here have to wait for the results before getting clearance to export their biscuits,” he told reporters at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Dr Chua, the party government policy monitoring bureau chief, said the industry players met him last week to discuss their problems.
Before the melamine scare in China, he said the industry exported RM600mil worth of biscuits per year while the domestic market was about one to two times more.
“The export market dropped by 50% while domestic consumption is also down by 30% to 40%,” he said, adding that if this continued manufacturers wouldn’t be able to service their bank loans.
Dr Chua added that he discussed the issue with Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai last Tuesday.
He said if tested biscuits had high content of melamine, they should be recalled and the ministry should announce the manufacturers’ names to protect the safety of consumers.
Liow said the ministry would accept melamine-content tests conducted by Singapore laboratories provided it was through the liquid chromatography double mass (LCMSMS) method that measures content by parts per million.
The laboratories should also be recognised by the Singapore government, he said, adding that the ministry would also consider laboratories using the GCMS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) method.
“Most of the laboratories in the country have the equipment for the GCMS method,” he said, adding that the ministry had sought the Higher Education Ministry’s help to speed up tests by using laboratories at universities.
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A revelation by T. Murugiah, a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department about the slow service by Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in conducting a post-mortem is just a tip of an iceberg.
T. Murugiah said “It takes about two hours to conduct a post-mortem. Why was there a delay when the hospital is well-equipped,”, adding that he was scolded by the deceased’s family when he went to the hospital. It's a no surprise because Malaysia have a first world facility but third world mentality.
In hospitals in East Malaysia, the next of kin have to wait for days for the body of the beloved one to be autopsied because the hospital have to wait for the doctor from another town to fly. In other cases, the doctor is attending course or on leave, thus delaying the autopsy. At times, it look like there is only one autopsy doctor in East Malaysia.
Is there is a shortage in autopsy doctor or their manpower planning was not organized properly ? This slow post-mortem service not only delay police investigation but also give undue stress to the family of the victim.
Related posts:
* Why Malaysian seeking medical help overseas
* Insufficient dialysis treatment in Malaysia
* Shortage of nurses in Malaysia hospitals
From TheStar
Hospitals rapped for slow service
By JANE RITIKOS
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah has taken to task hospitals that take too long to conduct post-mortems.
This had brought distress to the families, he said.
Murugiah, who oversees the Public Complaints Bureau, said he received a complaint on Friday and decided to check it out personally.
He said the police had sent the body of a murder victim, believed to have been killed on Wednesday, to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia at 4pm on Thursday.
“The family complained to me at 9.30am on Friday that the body has not been released because the post-mortem has not been conducted.
“I called the hospital and sent a letter to them (asking them) to explain. They promised to conduct a post-mortem that morning and the body was released at 12.30pm.
“It takes about two hours to conduct a post-mortem. Why was there a delay when the hospital is well-equipped,” he said, adding that he was scolded by the deceased’s family when he went to the hospital.
Murugiah said public service providers in the government or private sector should be efficient and not make people unhappy because in the end the Government would bear the brunt of the public’s anger.
“A trivial matter, if not brought under control, will become a big issue. That is how the Government loses public support,” he said after attending a Deeparaya event organised by the Kelab Golongan Kurang Upaya.
Murugiah said the Government could also reprimand private hospitals for offering poor services.
“We cannot wash our hands off (the matter) when there are problems,” he said.
On another issue, Murugiah said many handicapped people did not know that they were entitled to a RM300 monthly allowance while caregivers of those totally dependent were entitled to a RM200 allowance.
They can approach his bureau for help to apply for the allowance or go straight to the department, he said.
“As long they have their disabled person card they are eligible. The officer will verify their status and they can receive their allowance quite fast. A good idea is to get their associations to assist them to apply for the allowance,” he said.
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The Thai Food and Drug Administration has ordered Malaysian-made Omodo cream crackers off the shelves after finding excess levels of melamine, the second product from Malaysia to be banned after Julie’s cream crackers.
The Thai Food and Drug Administration said it found6.08 mg per kilogram of melamine in Omodo crackers, far above the 2.5 mg allowed.
Can't get any images or photo of the Omodo cream crackers. Can't find the website or homepage of Omodo either. Omodo.org is not the website for Omodo cream crackers.
Related posts:
* Khong Guan ordered to recall melamine tainted products
* Excessive melamine in Munchy’s crackers
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
From TheStar
Thailand bans cream crackers from Malaysia
BANGKOK: The Thai Food and Drug Administration has ordered Malaysian-made Omodo cream crackers off the shelves after finding excess levels of melamine, the second product from Malaysia to be banned.
On Oct 21, it ordered all stores to remove Julie’s cream crackers made by Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd in Malacca for the same reason.
Thai FDA secretary-general Dr Phipat Yingseri said the crackers contained 6.08 milligrams per kilo of melamine, which is over the permitted 2.5ml/kg.
He said the Omodo cream crackers were also manufactured by Perfect Food and imported into Thailand by Markin International (Thailand), which is based in the southern city of Sungai Golok Narathiwat. — Bernama
-------------------------------------------------
From TodayOnline (MediaCorp Press)
M’sia crackers banned in Thailand for melamine risk
BANGKOK — Thailand’s health authority has removed a Malaysian-made brand of cream crackers from the shelves after detecting excessive levels of the toxic chemical melamine, officials said yesterday.
The Thai Food and Drug Administration said it found6.08 mg per kilogram of melamine in Omodo crackers, far above the 2.5 mg allowed.
The provincial FDA authority in Narathiwat immediately banned the sale of the crackers until they could be certified safe for consumption.
Melamine has been at the root of a major contamination scandal in recent weeks, with four babies dying and 53,000 children falling ill from consuming tainted Chinese-made dairy products.
Governments around the world have banned or recalled Chinese dairy products found to contain melamine, with the contamination recently spreading to Chinese eggs. AFP
SEO: Omodo cream crackers not Komodo reptile or Comodo bags
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While it is a noble intention for the government to send patients (including children) to overseas countries (especially India) for medical help, a few questions popped up:
* Malaysia is promoting the country as a medical tourism destination. How successful is this programme ?
* Medical treatment at local private hospitals are expensive. Why is the government not controlling the medical cost ? I'm sure those private hospitals are making huge profits every year.
* Why treatment cannot be scheduled at government hospital ? If there is limited places, what is the government doing about it to upgrade the facility ?
The government has budgeted a mind-boggling RM2.3 Billion to buy new helicopters but at the same time, children are sent to India for medical treatment because they cannot afford the treatment in Malaysia. Poo-dah.
Related posts:
* Insufficient dialysis treatment in Malaysia
* Shortage of nurses in Malaysia hospitals
* Heath Ministry short of funds for Cardiac Centre
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 2
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded
From TheStar
Children doing well after heart operation in India
KUALA LUMPUR: The 17 children who were sent to the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore for heart surgery under a special programme have recovered, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
“We are very happy that all the children went through a safe operation and are doing very well,” Liow told reporters after opening Wisma LKL yesterday.
Liow said the programme, which saw the children being brought to India for affordable treatment for heart disease, would be continued in future.
The children, aged between nine months and 13 years, were sent to India when their families could not afford to seek medical help in local private hospitals or could not schedule treatment in government hospitals due to limited places.
For their referral treatment back in Malaysia, Liow said the children would be sent to hospitals close to their homes.
He said the costs of sending the children to the hospital in India was “affordable”, where each surgery was about RM10,000 while another RM4,900 was for accommodation and processing of visas.
On another matter, Liow said the ministry was currently working with Universiti Putra Malaysia in a research to investigate the migration of the chemical melamine from plastic containers to food.
“We will announce the types of plastics which may leach melamine once the results of the research are concluded,” he said.
An opposition party (Sabah DAP) alleged that the Health Ministry never bothered to check the particular chemical content in the food coming into the country until the melamine issue exploded in China.
In fact, Malaysian are doubtful if the Health Ministry has an effective food screening measures. Most of the times, the ministry will rely on information from their counters in Singapore, Hong Kong and Philippines. They are always 10 steps behind.
Personally, I am disappointed with the Health Ministry for allowing a 1 parts per million (ppm) melamine even in baby food ! How much is 1ppm ? Negligible ? Then why not just make is ZERO (0) ppm. No melamine. Banned melamine in food.
From Daily Express News
DAP ticks off Ministry over food screening
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP has taken the Health Ministry to task for "failing to come up with effective food screening measures."
MP Dr Hiew King Cheu said the Ministry had all along knew that it was unable to cope with the thousands of food coming into the country but "never bothered to boost its capability."
"In the past, the Ministry never bothered to check the particular chemical content in the food coming into the country until the melamine issue exploded in China," he said here, Saturday.
Now, the Ministry announced that its laboratory is able to screen only up to four products daily but it should be the responsibility of the Ministry to seek outside help, including privatising the food screening process, if it could not cope.
"At the present pace, how long will it take to screen the content of thousands of food coming into the country, 10 years? By the time people are already consuming poison," he said.
"Even I take the Khong Guan biscuits," he said, referring to the locally produced biscuits, some of it were recently found to contain a high amount of melamine.
At the same time, he said the Ministry should also consider requiring food producers to list out the contents and acquire accreditation certificates to state if it is free from harmful chemical.
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Following the banned of Khong Guan biscuit by the federal Health Ministry, the Johor state 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.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had announced on Oct 16 that 12 types (initially reported as 18 types) of Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuits to have contained excessive amounts of melamine from the raising agent ammonium bicarbonate imported from China and used to produce the biscuits.
From TheStar
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.
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Melamine tainted Munchy's peanut butter and cheese cream Mini Crackers
Hong Kong's food safety watchdog found high levels of melamine in 2 of Munchy's Food Industry Sdn. Bhd of Malaysia. They are Munchy's Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter with 5.4 parts per million (ppm) of melamine, and Munchy's Mini Crackers with Cheese Cream with 3.8 ppm. Hong Kong's safe limit for melamine is 2.5 ppm.
I just checked Munchy's website at http://www.munchys.com and the only information presented there is a notice for their customer assuring the safety of their products. Their is no product list or catalog. Either their website is poorly done or they have black out the access to their product link.
Related posts:
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
* Products positive for melamine internationally
From Reuters
Hong Kong finds melamine in two biscuit products
HONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Excessive amounts of the chemical melamine have been found in biscuits in Hong Kong made by Malaysian-based biscuit manufacturer Munchy Food Industries, a government laboratory said on Saturday.
The announcement is part of the Hong Kong government's continued testing of dairy-related products after thousands of children in China have fallen sick since last month after drinking milk containing the substance.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said it found a sample of Munchy's Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter contained 5.4 parts per million (ppm) of melamine, while a sample of Munchy's Mini Crackers with Cheese Cream had 3.8 ppm.
Under Hong Kong regulations, the limit for melamine in these products is 2.5 ppm, the food safety body said.
"Based on the levels detected, people are advised to stop consuming the products concerned," an unidentified spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety was quoted as saying in the statement.
The positive tests of melamine in the Munchy products are the latest detected by the laboratory, which have included earlier this month excessive amounts of melamine in two types of Cadbury Plc chocolate made in China.
Calls to a telephone number listed in a website for Munchy's products went unanswered.
However, the website displayed a notice telling consumers its products were safe given that milk and diary-based ingredients they used came from either France or Australia, but not China.
"We wish to assure all our customers and consumers that all our products are safe for consumption," the notice said in the website.
"We do not source any of these ingredients from China and our suppliers assure us that there is no danger of melamine adulteration in their products." (Reporting by Rafael Nam; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
-------------------------------
From The Star
Munchy gives reassurance its products are safe to eat
PETALING JAYA: Munchy Food Industries has reiterated that none of its products contain any dairy-based ingredients from China as it only uses those from Australia and France, its chief executive officer C.K. Tan said on Sunday.
The biscuit maker was responding to an announcement by the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety that excessive levels of melamine were found in its products.
Among the said products included Munchy’s Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter and Munchy’s Mini Crackers with Cheese Cream, which were found to contain 5.4 parts per million (ppm) and 3.8ppm of melamine respectively. The permitted level of melamine in such products is currently 2.5ppm.
“We are co-operating with the Health Ministry in Malaysia, which is conducting tests on our product range,” said Tan, adding that the company’s products were previously tested and cleared by independent certification agencies.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Health Ministry has sealed a factory producing two local biscuits which are said to contain excessive melamine by the Hong Kong government’s laboratory.
Its Food Safety and Quality Division director, Noraini Mohd Othman, said last night the products would be tested for melamine.
She also said the ministry has cleared 11 more products of melamine.
They are Amoy Flour Vermicilli (Sau Tao), Chocolate cookies (Golden Fuji), Chocolate Drink (Garden Stone), Cream Flavour Biscuits (Hong Da Food), Creamy Peanut Butter (Kinus), Crips Chocolate Flavour Cracker (Golden Fuji), Fiber Cracker (Aji), Gula Udang Merah (Sanwa), House of Steamed Potato (Silang), Saltine Crackers (Four Seas) and The Original Danish Butter Cookies (Silang).
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Below is a list of consumer products that have been identified as positive for melamine internationally. Those products have been tested to have excessive level of melamine contents or exceed the permissible level.
Some of those products are banned by certain countries and have been recalled from their market. For more information about the safety of the products, please consult your national health authority.
Biscuits, cakes and confectionery products identified with excessive melamine:
White Rabbit Creamy Candy manufactured by Shanghai Guang Sheng Yuan International Trade Co Ltd of China. White Rabbit Creamy Candy are marketed in New Zealand, Singapore, Belgium, Indonesia, Germany, Malaysia and France.
Misarang Custard and Milk Rusk marketed in Korea.
Cream Panda (Frozen steamed animal-shape bun with cream filling) manufactured by Qingdao Marudai Food Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Japan.
Cream Panda – for institutional use (Frozen steamed animal-shape bun with cream filling) manufactured Qingdao Marudai Food Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Japan.
Matcha Azuki Milk Man (Frozen steamed Japanese tea bun with red bean and vanilla cream) manufactured by Qingdao Marudai Food Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Japan.
Oreo Wafer Sticks manufactured by PT. Nabisco Food (Suzhou) Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Indonesia.
M&M's Mini Milk Chocolate and Snickers manufactured by Mars Food Co. Ltd Beijing of China and marketed in Indonesia.
M&M's Peanut Chocolate Candies and M&M's Milk Chocolate manufactured by PT. Effem Foods (Beijing) Co. Ltd Yanggi Industry & Development Zone of China and marketed in Indonesia.
New Sshma Ows Mallow Dippers - Strawberry Flavour marketed in Singapore.
Lotte Koala Yummies Cookies (Chestnut) (49g), Lotte Koala Biscuit (Chocolate Filled Biscuit) (49g), Lotte Koala Strawberry Biscuit (Family Pack) (200g), Lotte Koala's March Chocolate Biscuit (200g), Lotte Koala Biscuit (Family Pack) (Chocolate Filled) (Double Chocolate Flavour) (200g) manufactured by Lotte China Foods Co. Ltd, No 8 Yongchang North Road Economic and Technological Development Area of China and marketed in Netherlands, France, Hong Kong.
Frozen Chocolate Croissant, Frozen Croissant rolled with Red Bean, Frozen Pain aux Raisins and Frozen Croissant manufactured by La Brioche Foods Production (Zhangjiagang)of China and marketed in Japan.
Cadbury Choclairs – Blueberry Flavour, Cadbury Choclairs – Coffee Flavour manufactured by Cadbury (China) Food Company Ltd of China and marketed in Singapore.
Bairong Taro Biscuits manufactured by Bairong Food Stuff Company of China and marketed in Malaysia.
Mr Brown 3 in 1 Coffee Products manufactured by Car Food Industrial Co Ltd of Taiwan and marketed in Canada.
Kaiser Dressing Ptretzel (strawberry and choco flavour) marketed in Canada.
Four Seas cake (strawberry flavour) and Four Seas cake (chocolate flavour) manufactured by Four Seas Mercantile Limited of China and marketed in Canada and Hong Kong.
Sherwood Brands Pirates Gold Milk Chocolate marketed in Canada.
Lee Cheng Milk Slice (Original) "利誠干吃奶片" (168g) manufactured by Inner Mongolia Lee Cheng Industrial Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
"東望洋" (Tong Wang Yang) Coconut Cakes (180g) manufactured by Zhongshan City Tian Le Yuan Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
"東望洋" (Tong Wang Yang) Walnut Cakes (180g) manufactured by Zhongshan City Tian Le Yuan Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
Glico Pocky Men's Coffee Cream Coated Biscuit Stick (52g) prepared and packed in China and marketed in Hong Kong.
Lotte Cream Cheesecake manufactured by Lotte China Foods Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies (5kg bulk pack) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate (5kg bulk pack) manufactured by Cadbury (China) Food Company Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
Edo Pack Almond Cacao Biscuit Sticks (36g) marketed in Hong Kong.
Khong Guan and Khian Guan Biscuit marketed in Malaysia.
Liquid Milk and Yoghurt products identified with excessive melamine:
Dutch Lady - Strawberry Flavoured Milk (1L), Dutch Lady – Banana Flavoured Milk (250mL) and Dutch Lady - Honeydew Flavoured Milk (250mL) marketed in Singapore.
Wangzai Milk Drink (245mL) manufactured by Shandong Want Want Food Company Ltd of China and marketed in Austria.
Guozhen Pine Pollen Calcium Milk manufactured by Yantai New Era Health Industry Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Indonesia.
Soybean Drink with Milk (contains dairy milk as main ingredient) manufactured by Wuzhou Bingquan Industrial Shareholding Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Indonesia.
Wahaha AD Milk Drink marketed in New Zealand.
Kirin Milk Tea (340 mls) manufactured by Kirin Foodstuff Co Ltd of China and marketed in Australia.
Blue Cat Drinks (Strawberry, Sweet Orange, Pineapple, Peach Flavor) marketed in USA.
Yili High Calcium milk beverage, Yili Pure Milk (1L) and Yili High calcium low fat milk beverage manufactured by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd of China and marketed in Hong Kong and Macau.
Snack Food products identified with excessive melamine:
Silang - House of Steamed Potato - Potato Cracker (238g) and Silang - House of Steamed Potato - Potato & Tomato Cracker manufactured by Dong Guan Kam Tai Co Ltd Xi Ping Village of China and marketed in Singapore.
Xu Fu Ji Puffed Rice Rolls - Butter Corn Flavour and Xu Fu Ji Puffed Rice Rolls - Cheese Flavour manufactured by Dongguan HSU-CHI Foods Co Ltd Zhouwu Industrial Park of China and marketed in Singapore.
Snack World P-nut Crackers Chips (135g) manufactured by Hengshui Hong Teng Peanut Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Hungary.
Chocolate Pillows manufactured by Liwayway (China) Co Ltd of China and marketed in Japan.
Vigour 888 Filling Roll (Sergestid Shrimps flavour) and marketed in Malaysia.
Frozen Dessert products identified with excessive melamine:
Yili Choice dairy fruit bar yogurt flavoured ice confection manufactured by Shanghai Yili AB Foods Co. of China and marketed in Singapore.
Yili Super Bean Red Bean Chestnut Ice Bar (48ml), Yili Bean Club-Match red bean ice bar (87mL), Yili Bean Club-Red bean milk bar (95mL), Yili Prestige Chocliz - Dark Chocolate Bar, Yili natural choice yogurt flavoured ice bar with real fruit (90mL) manufactured by Shanghai Yili AB Foods Co. of China and marketed in Hong Kong.
Powdered Milk and Cereal Products identified with excessive melamine:
Soyspring Instant Milk Cereal (contains dairy milk as main ingredient) manufactured by Wuzhou Bingquan Industrial Shareholding Co. Ltd of China and marketed in Indonesia.
Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder marketed in Singapore.
Processed Foodstuff products identified with excessive melamine:
Frozen gratin crepe corn manufactured by Qingdao Marudai Food Co. Ltd. of China and marketed in Japan.
Products with Dairy Component including Infant Formula identified with excessive melamine:
Infant Formula, Powdered Milk, Liquid Milk and Yoghurt manufactured in China and marketed in China, Hong Kong and Macau.
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The Health Ministry has announced that Potato Cracker (Silang) was found to contain melamine at a level above the standard. Above the standard ... (but sound to me that Malaysia allowed some level of melamine in food !. That's not right).
In addition, Malaysia is darn slow in banning Silang Potato cracker as Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has announced earlier in September 30, 2008 their detection of melamine in Silang Potato Cracker and Silang Tomato Cracker, both produced by House of Steamed Potato. Malaysia is behind by 17 days !
Related posts:
* Products positive for melamine internationally
* Khong Guan Khian Guan biscuits banned
* Malaysia Allowed Melamine In Food - Health Minister Should Resign
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
From TheStar
Melamine scare: Potato cracker by Silang to be withdrawn
KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen more food products have been cleared of melamine by the Health Ministry, said its Food Safety and Quality Division director, Nooraini Mohd Othman.
They are Baby Bites Rice Tusk (Take One), Chunky Peanut Butter (Skippy), Cream Filled Golden Bar Biscuits (Ego), Creamy Peanut Butter (Daisy), Lollipop with Whistle (Golden Pop) and Marsh Mellow Dairy Milk Flavour Candy (Ego).
The others are Milk Candy (Mr Bunny), Peanut Butter & Chocolate Milk Stripes (Lady’s Choice), Prawn Crackers (Jumbo), Shim Ramyum Noodles (Nong Shim), Potato Cracker (Wasabi) (Silang), Health Daily Biscuit (Silang) and Cocoa Cookie (KTQ).
Nooraini, however, said another product, Potato Cracker (Silang) was found to contain melamine at a level above the standard.
“The ministry has identified the manufacturer. The Health Department has been ordered to destroy the product while the manufacturer has been told to withdraw the product from the market,” she said.
Consumers could contact the Food Safety and Quality Division at 0388833655, 0388833503, 0388833652 and 0388833500 or surf http://fsq.moh.goc.my for information. - Bernama
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Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuit products have been banned for having excessive levels of melamine.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 18 out of 47 Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuit products are tainted with melamine and their products are to be recall immediately.
Liow said the Ministry had traced the source of the melamine to ammonium bicarbonate imported by both manufacturers from China.
Some of Khong Guan products (Gift Tin) are listed below in format of product code, weight and product name.
PRODUCT CODE WEIGHT PRODUCT NAME
B4-409-4004 12X454 GM DANISH BUTTER COOKIE
B0-005-4012 6X 1.2 KG TOP CHOICE ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-047-4003 6X375 GM PREGO ASSORTED BISCUIT
B3-315-4004 6X460 GM RAISIN BISCUIT
B0-046-4005 6X500 GM PANZO ASSORTED BISCUIT
B2-201-4005 6X500 GM PINEAPPLE COOKIES
B0-030-4005 6X500 GM TEA BREAK ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-044-4006 6X600 GM BAMBINO ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-043-4006 6X600 GM BRAVO ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-048-4007 6X700 GM PRIMO ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-001-4007 6X750 GM FANCY TIN ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-039-4008 6X800 GM @ PARTY ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-045-4008 6X800 GM BREAK AWAY ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-032-4008 6X800 GM CRUNCHY DELIGHT ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-040-4008 6X800 GM GREAT TIME ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-035-4008 6X800 GM PRIME SELECTION ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-020-4008 6X800 GM PROSPEROUS ASSORTED BISCUIT
B0-042-4008 6X800 GM TIME'S RIGHT ASSORTED BISCUIT
Related posts:
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
* Products positive for melamine internationally
* Excessive Melamine In Taro Biscuits
* Malaysia Allowed Melamine In Food - Health Minister Should Resign
From The Star
Too much melamine found in popular biscuits
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 18 out of 47 Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuit products have excessive levels of melamine.
The products have been ordered to be removed from the shelves immediately, he said.
A number of food products in Malaysia are being tested following the melamine-tainted China milk scare and those that have melamine levels above the permissable 2.5 parts per million have been ordered off the shelves.
----------------------------------------
From TEMPO Interactive
Vietnam Accuses Khong Guan Biscuits of Containing Melamine
Friday, 10 October, 2008 | 23:55 WIB
"We have received a letter from the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi, stating that Khong Guan biscuits were contaminated with melamine," he told the reporters yesterday. The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) will investigate the case, Subagyo said, adding that "this is the first time Indonesian products have been charged of being contaminated with melamine."
Last September, milk coming from China were reported to be contaminated with melamine, which is a chemical used to manufacture plastic. In China it killed four babies due to kidney failure and caused thousands to be hospitalized. In Indonesia, six out of the 19 Chinese dairy products registered in the BPOM have proven to contain melamine.
BPOM deputy chief in charge of Food-Beverage and Dangerous Substances Supervision, Dedi Fardiaz, admitted receiving similar reports. However, he is still waiting for confirmation from Vietnamese authorities regarding the brand of the products. "The melamine content found in Vietnam was very low, around 265 microgram per kilogram," he said.
Indonesian Food and Beverages Businessmen Association in charge of Regulations, Franky Sibarany said the news coming out of Vietnam was not confirmed. "There has been no official confirmation from Vietnam's regulatory board," he said.
Franky claimed he had discussed the problem with Khong Guan Indonesia people and the company reportedly terminated their exports to Vietnam since a year ago and that it was currently importing their milk from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and from local suppliers.
Franky also explained that there are two Khong Guan companies belonging to Indonesia and Singapore with plants located in Thailand and Malaysia.
-------------------------------------
From The Star
Melamine: Khong Guan, Khian Guan biscuits recalled (Updated)
By TEH ENG HOCK
PUTRAJAYA: PUTRAJAYA: Excessive melamine was found in 18 of 47 biscuits produced by the Khong Guan and Khian Guan brands and they have been ordered removed from the shelves immediately.
“We have also requested that they voluntarily recall the rest of the products (the remaining 29),” said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Asked if they had agreed to do so, Liow said: “Yes, they are very responsive. They are all responsible companies.”
The 18 biscuit products were found to have melamine in excess of the permissable 2.5mg/kg or 2.5 parts per million (ppm).
Liow said the Ministry had traced the source of the melamine to ammonium bicarbonate imported by both manufacturers from China.
“Results from our tests found that Khong Guan biscuits contained 33.4ppm while Khian Guan contained 508ppm,” he said.
As such, Liow had banned the import of ammonium bicarbonate from China, placing the substance under Level 6 Examination (Auto Rejection), while ammonium bicarbonate from other countries were placed under Level 4 Examination (Surveilance Examination) under the Food Safety Information of Malaysia (FoSIM).
Excessive melamine was first linked to contaminated dairy products, but Liow said the Ministry would now be more alert and test more products other than those with dairy content due to the ammonium bicarbonate findings.
Ammonium bicarbonate is usually used as a raising agent in biscuit production and is allowed under the Food Rules 1985 but strict action had to be taken to protect the health of consumers, he said.
“All factories that use ammonium bicarbonate from China will have their products tested. We will test all biscuits in the country,” he said.
He said that food with dairy content from China had been placed under Level 6 Examination, and with the latest revelation, all imported biscuits had been placed under Level 4 Examination.
Meanwhile, he said the Ministry is looking into Julie’s Crackers and Mali unsweetened condensed milk, which was reported in the media to contain excessive levels of melamine.
Liow said consumers could contact the Food Services and Quality division at 03-8883 3655/3503/3652/3500.
On Oct 6, White Rabbit Creamy Candy was found to contain more than 50 times the permitted level of melamine and was banned by the ministry.
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While the government has approved the budget for the purchase of helicopters for the military with a whooping RM2.3 billion, kidney patients suffered due to the lack of dialysis treatment at the country's dialysis treatment centres.
Related posts:
* Shortage of nurses in Malaysia hospitals
* Heath Ministry short of funds for Cardiac Centre
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded, Part 2
* Sarawak General Hospital badly overcrowded
From TheStar
Parliament: Not enough dialysis centres
By LEE YUK PENG
KUALA LUMPUR: The 132 dialysis centres under the Health Ministry are insufficient for 17,367 kidney patients diagnosed with end-stage failure who need to go for dialysis treatment, said deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
Replying to Liang Teck Meng (BN - Simpang Renggam) in Parliament, Dr Abdul Latiff said the 132 dialysis centres comprising 1,836 machines can only provide dialysis treatment to 5,000 patients.
Dr Abdul Latiff said the Government works with non-governmental organisations like the Lions Club, Rotary Club and others, as well as the private sector which has a total of 186 centres with 1,787 machines to provide dialysis treatment to 6,000 patients.
He said the ratio of dialysis machines to renal failure patients is currently one to five.
“Government hospitals also have portable dialysis machines for those who can’t be at the dialysis units,” he said.
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Another alert from the Health Ministry on the recall of the Taro biscuit made by Bairong (or Bai Rong) due to excessive level of melamine contents. Melamine level detected in the Taro biscuits was 75ppm (parts per million), way over the permissible level. This product however, may not be available in Malaysia market.
As the fact given by the Health Ministry to the press is vague, Bairong could be the Dongguan-based Bairong Food Stuff Company.
Dongguan-based Bairong Food Stuff Company was in hot soup in 2007 when their products was also found to have excessive content of formaldehyde. Bairong has been blacklisted before by the Philippines's Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on contamination allegations.
Related posts:
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
* Malaysia Allowed Melamine In Food - Health Minister Should Resign
* Melamine Testings Too Slow
From TheStar
Taro biscuits ordered to be off shelves immediately
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has ordered Taro brand biscuit produced by Bairong to be withdrawn from the market with immediate effect after tests showed it contained melamine above the permissible level.
The ministry’s food quality and safety division director, Noraini Mohd Othman, said in a statement yesterday the product contained above the 75ppm (parts per million) level of melamine that is permitted.
The statement added that 12 products analysed by the division were found to meet the ministry’s standard for melamine content.
They are Fruit Jelly Stick (Motion), Genuine Pearl Jelly (Tian Tian), Lobster Peanut Crisp (Cap Layang), 888 (Egg & Milk Filling) (Vigor 888), Rice Crackers (Wang Wang), Biscuit Sticks (Four Seas). Mini Poppers Chocolate Flavoured (Walls), White Coffee 3in1 (Dali Coffee Beverage), Apple Sandwich Biscuits (Bairong), Colourfull Party (Cherry & Apple Biscuits) (Bairong), Almond Cakes (Fu Die Lai) and Curtes Chocolate (Giff). €” Bernama
--------------------
From Xinhua
Two south China biscuit manufacturers whose products were allegedly seized by authorities in the Philippines for containing toxic chemicals have refuted the claim, saying they have never exported to the country.
Dongguan-based Bairong Food Stuff Company and the Yongkang Food Company, both based in Guangdong Province, have been blacklisted by the Philippines's Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on contamination allegations.
Bairong spokesperson Xu Fengqiong said its products were sold in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, but it had no dealers or distributors in the Philippines, and the company had not directly exported its products to the country.
Sources from the Yongkang Food Company said the company was not licensed to export.
Both companies claimed their biscuits were safe.
Ma Feng, director of the food management department in Dongguan city quality supervision authority, said the bureau had found no formaldehyde after testing the products, ingredients and packaging materials.
He said the products had also been sent to the Guangdong provincial quality inspection authority for further tests.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2007)
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Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) or Coxsackie is back and it's going to be a stressful month for parents with young children. So far this year, HFMD has claimed at least two fatalities, one kid from Sibu, Sarawak and one kid from Taiping, Perak.
Parents, nurseries, kindergartens and the state health departments are required to more vigilance and alert on the HFMD outbreak. Learn about Facts of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) now.
From TheStar
Kindergarten closed after HFMD detected
MIRI: A kindergarten in Tudan residential area was closed after three cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFDM) were detected.
Miri health director Dr Chin Zin Hing said the kindergarten would be closed for the next two weeks.
“We are now helping the kindergarten to contain the outbreak,” said Dr Chin.
“We have also advised other kindergartens to shut down if the need arises. It is better to take early precautions.”
This is the first pre-school in the state to close following the sharp rise in HFMD infections statewide.
Last year, 13 children died from the Enterovirus 71 strain of HFMD while thousands were infected in the state.
Nurseries and kindergartens have also placed their staff and pupils on high alert following the death of a four-year old boy in Sibu from suspected infection of HFMD.
HFMD is a common yearly occurrence in Sarawak. The main fear is caused by the Enterovirus 71 strain that can be fatal.
------------------------------
From TheStar
Boy may be Perak’s first HFMD victim
IPOH: The state health department is investigating the death of a seven-year-old boy from Taiping, suspected to be Perak’s first death from the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
State Health, Environment and Human Resource Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said a report from the department yesterday stated that samples from the boy’s blood and brain fluids were sent to the Institute for Medical Research laboratory on Tuesday for confirmation.
Sivanesan said the boy, Toh Guan Hee, from Taman Assamara, developed fever and rashes on his hands, feet and mouth last Friday.
The boy first received treatment at a clinic and was later moved to a private hospital, he said. When there was no improvement, he was sent to Hospital Taiping on Monday. Despite treatment, Guan Hee’s condition worsened and he died at the hospital later that night.
Sivanesan said an 11-month-old girl from Taiping who was admitted to Hospital Taiping yesterday, was also suspected to have HFMD.
Between January and Oct 4, he said there were 258 confirmed HFMD cases in nine districts in Perak.
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It was revealed that the Health Ministry allowed a certain amount of melamine in food. This basically means melamine-tainted food products in the country were at the permissible level of 2.5 parts per million (ppm), whilst baby products contained one ppm.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai should resign (followed by the department heads in the Chemistry Department) for allowing melamine in food. Food should be absolutely 100% free of melamine. Food should not have even have 0.00001 ppm melamine. Melamine is toxic and poisonous and bad for health.
What kind of minister allowed poison in food and compromise our health ? Food should have ZERO melamine.
If you are from outside Malaysia, what is your country policy and safe level on melamine in food ?
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The Health Ministry is now on high alert over melamine-tainted vegetables imported from China after they learnt from South Korea authorities that they have detected a high level of melamine in vegetables imported from China.
This is a real lembab work from the Health Ministry who are always a few steps behind their counter-part from Singapore or other neighboring countries. Sound like the chemists under the Health Ministry are not properly equipped or they are bone lazy. Time to buck up Health Ministry.
Related posts:
* Melamine Testings Too Slow
* List Of Melamine Free Milk | Dairy Products
From The Star
Ministry on high alert over melamine-tainted vegies
KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry is now on high alert over melamine-tainted vegetables imported from China.
“We have learnt from South Korea that they have detected a high level of melamine in vegetables they import from China,” said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
“We have launched a Level 4 check on all food products from China where we will take samples to ensure the products are safe for consumption before releasing them into the market,” he told reporters Saturday after attending the Sabah MCA convention here.
Liow assured that melamine-tainted food products in the country were at the permissible level of 2.5 parts per million (ppm), whilst baby products contained one ppm. - Bernama
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Liow Tiong Lai, the Health Ministry admitted that lab testing of melamine by the Chemistry Department is too slow. Of the 866 product samples which have been taken, only 26 have been tested and found to be melamine-free. That's poor work. 26 out of 866. That's means 840 products are yet to be tested.
Whatever products listed as free of melamine are only a warranty or guarantee from the product manufacturers, not a test report from authorized and independent laboratories. Thus, consumer are still at the mercy of products quality and safety as warranted by the manufacturers and not from the Health Ministry.
From TheStar
More labs to be set up for testing melamine
By LISA GOH
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will set up its own laboratories as current melamine tests are proceeding “too slowly.”
Its minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said that of 866 product samples which have been taken, only 26 have been tested and found to be melamine-free.
“That’s too slow. So we are going to set up labs in every state because there are a lot of samples and the (Chemistry Department) lab cannot cope.
“We don’t want the people to have to wait,” he told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Hari Raya open house at Putra World Trade Centre here on Wednesday.
The ministry will set up more than 13 labs, and will also get the aid of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaya.
“These are qualified labs. They have the equipment and they have the capability,” Liow said.
He also asked the public not to panic if they found small portions of melamine in their food, as long as they were within the permissible level.
“European Union countries allow 30 parts per million (ppm) of melamine in all food products.
“When a food product is wrapped in plastic, there may be some transfer of melamine to the food. But if it’s in small amounts then it’s still safe as our bodies should be able to excrete it,” he said.
He said the melamine-tainted milk products in China were at dangerous levels of about 2,653ppm.
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