BEIJING─China’s melamine-laced formula scandal has created a long list of controversies, crisis, recalls and concerns worldwide.
In China, officials have been working to crack down on the exportation of toxic milk. Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai said he would "wage a 'battle' to clean up the merchants blamed for selling adulterated milk on to dairy companies,” Reuters reported.
In Europe, top food-safety agencies are set to share a scientific opinion this week on whether milk-containing products imported from China pose a health risk.
Some dairy stocks have plummeted. “Mengniu Dairy shares plunged nearly two-thirds to a 33-month low on Tuesday after brokers downgraded the stock on concerns that the tainted dairy product scandal in China will dent industry growth," Reuters reported.
In Canada, food processors have been told to alert the Canadian Food Inspection Agency “to any domestic products that were made using milk or milk-derived ingredients such as powders from China.” In addition, more imports will be closely monitored for contaminated ingredients.
Friesland Foods, sold under the brand name Dutch Lady, withdrew Chinese milk from Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau. The withdrawal affects sterilized milk in different flavors in plastic 1 liter and 250 ml bottles.
In Singapore, a high amount of melamine was found in strawberry-flavored milk produced in China.
In Hong Kong, there has been no contamination found in Dutch Lady products.
Indonesia and Japan have joined the list of countries seeking to shield themselves from damage and exposure to tainted products.
In Japan, authorities have urged the government to suspend imports of all dairy products from China. Reuters reported that “the National Governors Association has submitted a petition to Tokyo declaring ‘people's distrust is growing over food made in China.’"
Indonesia has banned all Chinese imports of baby milk.
