ANCHOR, MALIBAN AND DIAMOND MILK POWDER OFF THE SHELVES

Ban on sales of Anchor full cream, Maliban non-fat, Diamond

     By now two issues have surfaced in relation to milk powder of Sri Lanka. One is that, as revealed by local tests, imported milk powder contaminated by the hazardous agro chemical DCD is presently available in the market, while the other is that, a bacteria called Clostridium Botulism has been detected on an international scale in whey protein concentrate milk powder which has resulted in Fonterra products including Anchor products including Anchor being banned from the market.

     Accordingly, a few days ago imported stocks of milk powder were not released and are being retained by Customs for the purpose of subjecting it to tests on bacteria which may have been present. Milk powder products reported to have contained the chemical DCD were to be removed immediately from the market according to reports received yesterday issued under orders of Director General Dr.Palitha Mahipala of the Health Ministry.

    This announcement was issued to 3 leading companies. As such,while products subjected to suspension were Anchor Full Cream, Maliban non-fat and Diamond, other milk powder issued under the trade name Maliban was not prohibited from being sold as they do not contain any hazardous element. All milk powder samples have now been sent for tests and the products are expected to be totally removed from the market if found contaminated by DCD. All provincial health services directors, Director of the National Health Institute and Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipality were notified via circulars to check whether these activities are properly carried out. It has also been decided that all samples of stocks of milk powder imported from New Zealand are to be checked at the port for traces of the bacteria Clostridium Botulism  and it has been decided to release the stocks of milk powder from port if results are negative.

Steps have also been taken by now to remove that which contains whey protein concentrate and additional nutritional food from the market. Competent Authority on Food and Health Services, Director General Dr.Palitha Mahipala has made a written request from both the printed and electronic media to refrain from publishing or broadcasting all advertisements relating to milk powder until further notice in the face of this crisis.

   The Advisory Committee on Food had decided to make tests on all milk powders in the country as to whether the DCD chemical, Clostridium Botulism bacteria and whey protein concentrate is present; considering the problematic situation that has arisen in respect of milk powder. On behalf of the welfare of the public, with the approval of the Director General of Health, the said Advisory Committee has decided to suspend the publication and broadcast of advertisements in all media relating to milk powder. The committee says that further steps would be taken after consideration of the test results.

   In the meantime, what Fonterra Company says is that the test report presented by the Sri Lanka Industrial and  Technological Institute about what is contained in Fonterra milk powder is false. What they say is that Sri Lanka does not possess technological facilities advanced enough to conduct tests of a wide-scale on milk powder. They further say that the report forwarded by them have been checked by world-renown independent Chemical Scientist Professor Brin Gibert and that he too professes that the report referred to is not correct.