Trading standards issue melamine alert

9 October 2008

Bedfordshire County Council trading standards and local environmental health officers have taken decisive action to withdraw certain varieties of Koala brand biscuits and White Rabbit sweets which have been found to be contaminated with melamine. 

The products being withdrawn are:

Koala Chocolate Cookies 49g

Koala Strawberry Cookies 49g

Koala Yummie Cookies Chestnut 49g

Koala Melon Cookies 49g

White Rabbit Creamy Candies 227g: Best Before 20-1-10 and 20-5-10  

White Rabbit Creamy Candies 454g: Best Before 20-5-10

The risk to public health is low, but customers who have bought affected biscuits are advised to return them to the store where they will receive a refund.

Melamine was the substance used illegally in China to boost the apparent protein content of the milk and caused kidney stones and other complications in infants.

Bedfordshire County Council trading standards officers and local council environmental health officers have contacted local retailers to ensure they take action to withdraw or recall the listed products.

Cllr Peter Hollick, Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The safety of the public is our first priority.  Whilst the risk to public health is low, our trading standards officers, together with environmental health officers, are working closely with local retailers to ensure contaminated stocks are withdrawn.”

The affected biscuits and sweets were manufactured in China by Lotte China Foods Co. and Guanshengyuan Food General Factory respectively and distributed to a number of premises in the UK (a full list of which, along with images of the product, can be found on the Food Standards Agency| (new window)website .

 ENDS