'Stay away from China-made candies, cookies'
Local officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in Iloilo have warned the public against buying China-made candies and cookies while investigation is ongoing to determine its safety.
DTI Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena, Jr. likewise called on distributors to temporarily pull-out the products believed to be contaminated with formaldehyde from the market.
Cadena said the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has ordered major supermarkets and malls to remove the suspected items within 15 to 30 days.
Among the products ordered withdrawn from the market are White Rabbit Cream Candy, manufactured by Shanghai Guan Seng Yan Food General Factory; Milk Candy, manufactured by Romantic Fish Food Industry Company Inc. in Fujian; Bairong Grape Biscuits manufactured by Dongguan Bairong Foodstuff Company Ltd. and Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuits manufactured by Dongguan Yongkang Food Company Ltd.
In Iloilo City, several malls and supermarkets are flooded with candies and cookies coming from Chinas which are sold in cheaper price.
DTI is not the lead agency in the implementation of the BFAD order but Cadena said they are doing their part by conducting weekly monitoring on the products that are sold in the market.
It is the BFAD which could recommended the suspension, cancellation of licenses or closure of the erring establishments, said Cadena.
According to BFAD 6 cluster head Nenita Gallardo they have already conducted "post marketing surveillance" in the different malls and supermarkets. They got samples of the products and sent it to Manila for laboratory testing.
On their part, they have yet to receive the order to pull out the products from the supermarket.
Nevertheless, Gallardo warned the public from buying the specified China-made products to avoid being contaminated.
The BFAD here will wait for the results of the laboratory test on the products they have sent for examination. As such, they are also asking the public to bring to their office samples of Chinese products which they deemed contaminated with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, is a disinfectant linked to cancer in humans.