Mozambique off the hook on contaminated milk from China

The Mozambican authorities said on Tuesday there is no record that the country has imported any Chinese milk products contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine.

Melamine is used in plastics. When combined with cyanuric acid, it can cause renal and urinary problems and cancer.The Chinese dairy companies that used melamine had apparently defrauded their customers by diluting the milk with water.The addition of melamine hid the dilution from government inspectors.The result was that four babies are known to have died from the contaminated milk, and at least 53 000 have fallen ill.Fernando Tinga, head of public relations at the Mozambican Tax Authority (which includes the customs service), told reporters at a Tuesday press conference “Since the alert was given, we have shared the information with all our road, maritime and air terminals.Our colleagues at the borders are ready to carry out physical examinations and even to send samples of produce to the Ministry of Health for testing, in case of suspicion.”But there is no sign of any milk or milk powder imported into Mozambique from China.Most of the milk products consumed in Mozambique are of European origin.However, the problem goes beyond milk.Anything which includes milk or milk powder in its ingredients – including biscuits and chocolate – might be contaminated.Various brands of such foods have seen their products removed from European supermarket shelves for fear that they contain Chinese milk.But these products are still being imported into Mozambique.Jose Rodolfo of the inspectorate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told the press conference there was not sufficient information to take measures on these foodstuffs.He warned against over-reacting.”We need more details before we go into the shops and destroy all the chocolate,” said Rodolfo.”This is work that will follow after we understand the details about the milk derivatives, and have precise information about the danger to health,” he added.”We aren’t disregarding these other products, but right now our attention is on the milk.We don’t have any of this contaminated milk, but we can’t just go home and sleep,” Rodolfo said.”We have to work so that this product does not enter the country.It hasn’t entered so far, but it might come in.”Rodolfo claimed that there has been an overall decline in the presence of goods unfit for human consumption on sale in Mozambican shops.This was because of tighter inspection, leading to the removal of goods past their expiry dates from the shelves.Nampa-AimWhen combined with cyanuric acid, it can cause renal and urinary problems and cancer.The Chinese dairy companies that used melamine had apparently defrauded their customers by diluting the milk with water.The addition of melamine hid the dilution from government inspectors.The result was that four babies are known to have died from the contaminated milk, and at least 53 000 have fallen ill.Fernando Tinga, head of public relations at the Mozambican Tax Authority (which includes the customs service), told reporters at a Tuesday press conference “Since the alert was given, we have shared the information with all our road, maritime and air terminals.Our colleagues at the borders are ready to carry out physical examinations and even to send samples of produce to the Ministry of Health for testing, in case of suspicion.”But there is no sign of any milk or milk powder imported into Mozambique from China.Most of the milk products consumed in Mozambique are of European origin.However, the problem goes beyond milk.Anything which includes milk or milk powder in its ingredients – including biscuits and chocolate – might be contaminated.Various brands of such foods have seen their products removed from European supermarket shelves for fear that they contain Chinese milk.But these products are still being imported into Mozambique.Jose Rodolfo of the inspectorate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told the press conference there was not sufficient information to take measures on these foodstuffs.He warned against over-reacting.”We need more details before we go into the shops and destroy all the chocolate,” said Rodolfo.”This is work that will follow after we understand the details about the milk derivatives, and have precise information about the danger to health,” he added.”We aren’t disregarding these other products, but right now our attention is on the milk.We don’t have any of this contaminated milk, but we can’t just go home and sleep,” Rodolfo said.”We have to work so that this product does not enter the country.It hasn’t entered so far, but it might come in.”Rodolfo claimed that there has been an overall decline in the presence of goods unfit for human consumption on sale in Mozambican shops.This was because of tighter inspection, leading to the removal of goods past their expiry dates from the shelves.Nampa-Aim