The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

In the wake of media reports on melamine content of eight foreign milk products, people who have earlier bought powder milk are now buying liquid milk across the country.

Consequently, the sale of powder milk has dropped drastically in the market, sources said.

The government, in an official notice on Thursday last advised people against consuming eight foreign made powder milk until further notice, after the products tested positive for melamine content at the Dhaka University Chemistry Laboratory.

Three of the brands were imported from China, while the rest came from Denmark, Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, representatives of the three multinational companies out of eight, whose products tested positive for melamine content, will meet with the Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Sunday to explain their product standard.

The three foreign companies are Nestle Bangladesh Limited, Arlafood Bangladesh Limited and New Zealand Dairy Milk Product Limited.

The industrial chemical, melamine, normally used in making plastic and fertiliser, is blamed for causing severe renal problems and kidney stones. Countries around the world have also withdrawn products containing Chinese milk following the scandal in China.

The eight are: Australian brands Diploma and Red Cow, Danish brand Dano Full Cream, Chinese brands Yashili-1, Yashili-2, Sweet Baby-2 and New Zealand brands Nido Fortified Instant and Anlene.

The eight brands had been tested in two other Bangladeshi laboratories but researchers found melamine in only one of the Chinese brand, a high official of Commerce Ministry said.

Milk powder of 36 brands has been collected so far from the markets for testing. Tests of 15 brands, including these eight, have already been completed, according to sources.

"There are no Nestle products made from milk adulterated with melamine," a senior official of the company said.

He said that Nestle was seeking clarification on the methodology of testing from Dhaka University.

He also pointed out that two laboratories outside Bangladesh had tested the same Nestle product and found it contained no melamine.

"We have always tested our products to keep its standard before releasing it in the market," he said.

The official said that the government had assured them of re-testing the products in a foreign laboratory.

The melamine milk powder scare, originating in China, has spread panic worldwide over the past month as more than 60,000 babies fell ill in China after drinking milk of two local brands. Four infants died.