Shoppers warned of contaminated biscuits |03 November 2008

There are believed to be more than 50,000 packets of these Malaysian-made biscuits – whose brand names are Julie’s, Khong Guan and Santa – now on the market in Seychelles.

The appeal from the National Consumers Forum (Natcof) follows an alert by the Agrifood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) in Singapore.

The AVA confirmed with Natcof executive director Jules Hoareau by phone on Friday that 33 brands of biscuits made in Malaysia and containing high levels of melamine have been found on the market in Singapore.

After a market investigation, Natcof found that three of these brands are being sold in Seychelles. The main importer of the biscuits, Communications Singapore, confirmed that the suspect consignment was imported some three weeks ago.

Melamine has been linked to kidney failure and deaths of children in China, and the level in these particular biscuits is said to be high and potentially dangerous to human health.

Natcof stresses that this is a serious matter and is urging people not to buy these biscuits until further notice. It is also asking shopkeepers to voluntarily remove these products from their shelves.

More details and other measures to be taken against the health risk from melamine contamination will be outlined by Natcof later.