Nation free from contaminated milk

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OFFICIALS in the St. Kitts-Nevis Bureau of Standards are allaying local consumer fears over the Chinese tainted milk scandal that reportedly left more than 10,000 children hospitalised on the Asian capital.

Hiran Williams, who heads up the federal agency, told SKNVibes there is no need for anybody to worry and stressed that the government is knowledgeable of the situation in China and the hazard that the milk has caused.

“There is no need for anybody to worry. The government is knowledgeable of the situation in China and the hazard that the milk has caused. I am not aware of any Chinese imports coming into our nation. In fact, we heard about the situation and since then, there has been investigation into the matter. 

“At this time however, we are keenly monitoring the situation for any changes and there is no indication that there are any of such products on island,” she said.

China’s Ministry of Health issued a statement on Wednesday (Oct. 8) stating that four infants had died and 10,666 children remained hospitalised after drinking milk contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to life-threatening kidney failure.

China's State Council tightened quality control regulations for the dairy industry today (Oct. 10), imposing new regulations to “tighten control over cattle breeding, the purchase of raw milk and the production and sale of dairy products”.

The measures may have little if any positive effect on the Chinese dairy manufacturers and the country’s wider economy as over 30 countries have banned milk products and some have gone so far as to ban all Chinese food products.  ~~Adz:Right~~

Williams advocated that persons err on the side of caution with regard to the purchase or use of Chinese dairy products.

“I urge those who are travelling though, to bear in mind that it has been advised that you should not buy dairy products manufactured by China unless they have been proven not to contain any contaminations.”

Efforts to contact Minister of Consumer Affairs and Trade, Hon. Timothy Harris and Permanent Secretary for Consumer Affairs Ambassador Roslyn Hazelle proved futile as both were said to be “off island”. Williams informed that an official press release will be issued in relation to the findings of the investigations and the country’s course of action in response to the crisis.