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MANILA,
Oct. 5 (PNA) – Malacanang is confident that the trade relations between
the Philippines and China would not be affected by the controversial
melamine contamination issue.
Press
Secretary Jesus Dureza on Friday said the Philippines is only doing the
necessary measures to give protection to the Filipino consumers,
stressing that it is only appropriate for the government to over-react
on the issue as public health and safety are stake.
“We
would rather over-react than under-react because the health and safety
of the consumers are paramount and it has no bearing at all as to
whether it will create problems with our relations because I am sure
that China is as concerned as we are to make sure that the products
they export are not harmful to consumers,” Dureza said in an interview.
The
Press Secretary pointed out that the Philippines and China have close
diplomatic and trade relations and “issues like this will not go on the
way of the continuing warm relations between the two countries. While
the Philippines is concerned about this issue, I am sure China is also
concerned and they probably take the necessary steps to address this
adequately.”
He
advised the public to listen to advisory coming from competent agencies
like Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) which issue periodic
pronouncement, including the Department of Health.
The
DOH has announced that two of the 30 milk brands and milk-based
products so far tested by the BFAD have been found positive for
melamine content.
Health
Secretary Francisco Duque III said these are Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk
and Mengniu Drink, which have labels written in Chinese characters.
The
28 other milk and chocolate products that were found negative of
melamine content are the following: Anchor Lite Milk, Anlene High
Calcium, Low Fat Milk, Bear Brand Instant, Chic Choc Milk Chocolate,
Farmland Skim Milk, Jinwei Drink, Jolly Cow Pure Fresh Milk, Kiddie
Soya Milk Egg Delight, Lactogen 1 DHA Infant Formula, M&M Milk
Chocolate Candy, M&M Peanut Chocolate Candy, Milk Boy, Nestagen 2
DHA Follow-up Formula, Nestogen 3 DHA Follow-up Formula, Nido 3 Plus
Pre-bio with DHA, Nido Full Cream Milk Powder, Nido Junior;
No
Sugar Chocolate of Isomalt 2 Oligosaccharide (cocoa butter substitute),
Nutri Express Milk Drink, Pura Fresh Milk, Snickers (roasted in caramel
nogut in thick milk chocolate), Vitasoy Soya Milk Drink, Wahaha Orange,
Wahaha Yellow, Want Want Milk Drink, Windmill Skim Milk Powder, Yinlu
Milk Peanut and Yogi Yogurt Flavor Milk Drink. (PNA)
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