DOH bans local biscuit brand

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday banned from the market the locally manufactured biscuit Sunflower Crackers Blueberry Cream Sandwich that allegedly contains the plastic chemical melamine.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque issued the ban after the Hong Kong government’s Center for Food Safety reportedly found traces of the toxic substance melamine in the biscuit, which was imported from the Philippines.

“In the interest of the public safety and well being of the people, the DOH declares the Croley Food manufactured Sunflower Cracker Blueberry Cream Sandwich product to be imminently injurious and unsafe,” Duque said.

Duque then directed all law enforcement agencies and other concerned government offices to exert all efforts in implementing the ban against the sale and distribution of the biscuit.

The health chief said the local biscuit manufacturer must cease from selling, distributing the product locally and exporting abroad until the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) tested and cleared the product from melamine.

“No company shall buy, purchase or acquire the said product for whatever reason,” Duque added.

Duque further ordered Croley Foods Manufacturing Corp. to recall its product from the market and report its recall status with BFAD.

BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez had warned the public not to eat a locally made biscuit suspected to contain melamine.

Gutierrez said the bureau already collected samples of Croley Foods Sunflower Crackers and would submit these for laboratory examination to determine whether they are contaminated with melamine or not.

She said she immediately ordered the BFAD inspectors to collect samples of the biscuit and submit them to laboratory test upon learning of the report from Hong Kong.

Duque has directed BFAD to continue monitoring and inspection of all outlets nationwide, which may possibly be selling the banned food products.