Monday, December 29, 2008
Freeze Dried Fruits in Chocolate
It comprises of freeze-dried fruits like durian, strawberry, mango coated with chocolate.
I got to say that the idea is pretty good in a sense that it makes eating chocolate sightly healthier with added fibre from the fruits!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Julie Biscuits back on shelves in Singapore
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will lift the suspension on the import and sale of “Julie’s” brand of biscuit products with immediate effect.
All new batches of “Julie’s” brand of biscuit products, manufactured on or after 2 December 2008, will be allowed to be imported into Singapore. The date of manufacture must be clearly stated on the product labels. A health certificate and a laboratory report to show that the products are not contaminated with melamine must also accompany each imported consignment.
AVA has inspected the factories that manufacture the “Julie’s” brand of biscuit products in Malaysia and is satisfied with the measures taken by the manufacturer and the Malaysian authorities to ensure that Julie’s brand of biscuit products are not contaminated with melamine.
Import of all “Julie’s” brand of biscuit products was temporarily suspended on 24 October 2008 as a precautionary measure, after 12 of its products were found to be contaminated with melamine.
AVA will continue to monitor the safety of the products imported into Singapore to ensure that they are not contaminated with melamine.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Final Phase for release of recalled China Milk Products
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has completed batch-testing of the products in the remaining categories - biscuits and crackers, liquid milk, ice-cream, and milk and whey protein products, under the planned phased release of recalled China milk products.
With the exception of six (6) biscuit products that tested positive for melamine, products in these categories have cleared the pre-release testing and will be released for sale with immediate effect.
The six biscuit products contaminated with melamine are:
i) Baby Looney Tunes Cream Filled Biscuits Assorted Family Pack ( 4.46 - 7.08 ppm of melamine detected)
ii) C & OK Vigour 888 Egg & Milk (Not detected - 40 ppm of melamine detected)
iii) Khong Guan Mini Burger Biscuit Bulk Pack (0.31 - 6.77 ppm of melamine detected)
This product is intended for re-export and is not available in the retail market.
iv) Liluo Fruit P.D. Almond Flavor (4.15 - 11 ppm of melamine detected)
v) Potter Potato Chips Pizza (6.57 - 6.91 ppm of melamine detected)
vi) Tom & Jerry Cheese Balls (29.23 - 33.85 ppm of melamine detected)
The China-made biscuits listed above have been recalled since 19 September 2008 and will be destroyed under AVA’s supervision. This brings the total number of affected China milk products to 22.
AVA would like to assure the public that the levels of melamine detected in the affected products are low and hence unlikely to result in any adverse health effect. Consumers have to consume large quantities of the contaminated products over a prolonged period of time to be at risk of potential ill effects on health.
Recall Of Frollini Con Farina Integrale Biologica Organic Whole Wheat Biscuits (350g)
The European Commission has issued an alert to inform the Agri-Food
and Veterinary Authority (AVA) that Alce Nero Organic Whole Wheat Biscuits
"Frollini Con Farina Integrale Biologica" (350g) from Italy with best before date
of 23.01.2009, had been tested and found to contain high peroxide value, an
indication of degraded food quality which may result in rancidity, deterioration in
taste and flavour.
Following this announcement, AVA requires importers and retailers to
recall the implicated product from the market immediately.
AVA advises consumers who have bought the implicated
product to discard it and not consume the product.
The product to be recalled is:
Alce Nero Organic Whole Wheat Biscuits - "Frollini Con Farina Integrale
Biologica"
Net weight: (350g)
Best before 23.01.2009
Country of Origin: Italy
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Phased release of recalled China milk products
As of 24 November 2008, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority
(AVA) has completed testing of chocolate, candy and dessert products
containing milk as an ingredient. Test results for these categories are
satisfactory and products in these three categories will be released for
sale with immediate effect.
There are now ten (10) categories of China milk products that have been
released for sale. The other categories that have been released earlier are :
- Butter
- Ghee
- Non-dairy creamer
- Cereal
- Bread
- Cakes
- Beverages
The remaining products will be released over the week when tests on
them have been completed.
Pokka Elderflower Tea Drink
Feeling thirsty? How about a drink: a cool, refreshing tea with just a hint of mint? Thanks to the efforts of a lecturer and three students from the Singapore Polytechnic (SP) School of Chemical and Life Sciences (CLS), you can now sate your thirst with the Elderflower tea drink.
In May 2007, lecturer Ku-Chong Lee Fong and her food technology students Edwin Neo Junde, Eric Chow Li Chong and Lim Ye Sen started working on a little project to develop a new herbal drink. A year and a half later, their efforts have borne fruit with the official launch of the Elderflower Tea drink, which will be marketed by Pokka Corporation Singapore Limited.
The floral tea, which is brewed from elderflowers and Darjeeling tea, has no colouring or preservative and has been certified as a Healthier Choice by the Health Promotion Board.
The Elderflower is beneficial for the health of your respiratory tract and circulatory system and also serves as a relaxant. Most importantly, it is a traditional remedy for colds and fever.
Beginning 1 December, the Elderflower tea drink will hit the shelves at more than 1000 retail outlets across Singapore, and Pokka has already started making plans to introduce the drink to the South-East Asian market and the region.
The Tea Team: Third-year Diploma in Food Technology students (from left) Edwin Neo Junde, Eric Chow Li Chong and Lim Ye Sen proudly introduce the results of their hard work, the Elderflower Tea.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
RISE Fresh Start Mango Smoothie
I finally found in at 7-11!
Anyway, RISE Smoothie claims to be a real fruit and dairy combo that not only tastes great but fills you up!
I sort of like the convenience cap on feature that allows for drinking to be on the go and less messy, however, a thought that came to my mind is that, what is there is many people at the retail outlets that touch the cap before you actually drink from it?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Recall for Cadbury Boost Totally Nuts
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand has issued an alert to inform that Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd in Australia is voluntarily recalling its product, Cadbury Boost Totally Nuts (60g) due to the possible presence of plastic pieces from the manufacturing process. Only Cadbury Boost Totally Nuts (60g) with the 15-06-09 Best Before date is affected.
As a precautionary measure, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) requires importers and retailers to recall the implicated product from the market immediately.
AVA advises consumers who have bought the implicated product to discard it and not consume the product.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Recall of HI CHEW Candies (Grapes Flavoured and Green Apple Flavoured)
Morinaga & CO.,LTD. in Japan has announced a recall of specific production lots of Hi-Chew candies, as the products may be contaminated with tiny pieces of plastic glove (synthetic nitrile rubber/0.3mm thick). This glove, which was used during the production process was accidentally torn and may have subsequently contaminated the products. Details of the affected products are described below.
Following this announcement, as a precationary measure, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has required the importer and retailers to recall all the products which may have been affected from the market immediately.
AVA advises the consumers who have bought the implicated products to discard the products and not to consume them.
Products details:
Morinaga Hi-Chew 57g Grape Japanese Version Long Stick (Bar Code: 49813609)
1) 2009.06 ●C8▲
2) 2009.06 ●C9▲
3) 2009.06 ●D0▲
4) 2009.06 ●D1▲
Morinaga Hi-Chew 57g Green Apple Japanese Version Long Stick (Bar Code: 49813234)
2009.06 ●D1▲
Note: The pictures attached below are sourced from the Internet and are meant for references.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Phased release of recalled products
AVA has completed its surveillance tests on more than 3,500 milk products, of which some 500 were made in China. To date, 16 China milk products have been found to contain melamine. These products have been destroyed or are awaiting destruction.
AVA will release China made milk products that were imported into Singapore prior to the 19 Sep ban in three phases, under a managed-risk approach. Low-risk products will be released in the first phase followed by medium risk products (Phase 2) and higher risk products (Phase 3).
All products are subject to further checks and will only be released for sale after laboratory tests have ascertained that they do not contain melamine exceeding AVA’s action limits*. The categories of products under each phase are:
Phase 1 : Low risk products
- Butter
- Ghee
- Non-dairy creamer
- Cereals
- Products made in China using milk from other countries as ingredient
Phase 2 : Medium risk products
- Bread
- Cake
- Chocolate
- Biscuits and crackers
- Candies
- Other confectionery products
Phase 3 : Higher risk products
- Liquid milk
- Ice-cream
- Milk protein
- Whey protein
The pre-release testing for the low risk products of butter, ghee and nondairy creamer from China (three products under Phase 1) have been completed and found satisfactory. These products will be released for sale with immediate effect. Products made in China using milk from other countries as an ingredient will be released for sale when the importers submit documentary proof of the sources of milk ingredients. The remaining products would be
released over the next 2-3 weeks when tests on them have been completed.
*AVA’s action limits for melamine are 1 part per million (ppm) for food products forchildren below 3 years of age, and 5 ppm for all other food products.
Choon Chuan Yam Paste
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Attention Foodies in Singapore!!!
Look up for the upcoming Asia Pacific Food Expo from 14 - 18 November 2008 Singapore Expo Hall 5!
A wide range of food products from processed food and drinks to alcoholic drinks, ice cream, deserts, dairy products, coffee and tea, etc
Certainly not to be missed!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Three additional China food products found in Singapore to contain Melamine
AVA has detected melamine contamination in these three additional China-made products:
i) Lotte Koala’s March Cocoa Chocolate Biscuit (17.3 ppm of melamine detected)
ii) Hello Kitty Strawberry Cream Filled Biscuit (5.5 ppm of melamine detected)
iii) Unbranded non-dairy creamer in industrial pack (415.4 ppm - 6,694 ppm of melamine detected)
This product is intended for re-export and is not available in the retail market. It has been sealed in the manufacturer’s warehouse since 19 September 2008 and has not been used in any food production.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Japanese sausage recall after cyanide scare
Itoham Foods Inc. said in a public notice published in national newspapers Sunday that tests have found up to three times the government limit of cyanide in the well water normally used in the products.
The announcement was the latest in a raft of recalls following reports of contamination.
The industrial chemical melamine was found in a host of Chinese-made milk products in September, triggering massive recalls in dozens of countries, including Japan.
Separately, Japan's top instant noodle maker, Nissin Food Products Co., announced domestic recalls Friday of its Cup Noodle instant noodles after a woman grew sick from eating noodles that were later found to be tainted with an insecticide.
The latest recall covers nearly 2.7 million packages of sausages and pizza sold in Japan.
Itoham said it had detected large amounts of cyanide in the water at two of the three wells at its factory in Chiba, near Tokyo. Tests were still being carried out on sausages to see if they had been tainted.
Cyanide, often used in fertilizers, can seep into ground water, where small amounts are often found.
Itoham spokesman Yoshiro Matsuzaki said this was the first time in its 40 years of operation that the company had found unhealthy levels of cyanide in its wells.
The country's second-biggest meat processor, based in Nishinomiya, western Japan, said it believed the products would not pose any risk to health if consumed. The company said it has not received any reports of health problems and the recalls are voluntary.
"Please accept our sincere apology," Itoham said in a statement. "We will do our utmost to prevent future problems and ensure product safety."
Japan has been hit by several high-profile food scandals involving contamination and mislabeling, and the government is considering creating a new, specialized agency to monitor food and product safety.
No insect repellent found in Nissin, Myojo cup noodles in Singapore
The chemical is used as an insect repellent.
On Friday, Japan’s Nissin Food Products Co. recalled half a million cups of instant noodles over fears of contamination after a 67—year—old Japanese woman vomited and felt numbness on her tongue after eating the noodles.
In the latest food scare, Japan’s second largest meat processor Itoham Foods Inc. on Sunday began recalling more than two million packs of sausage and pizza products possibly containing toxic chemicals.
AVA has confirmed Singapore does not import food that contains meat products from Japan.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Cup Noodle Scare in Japan
TOKYO, Oct 24 - Worries over the safety of instant noodles spread in Japan on Friday after nine servings were found to contain poison, and one maker recalled half a million cups of the popular product.
Nine cups of noodles distributed by the Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union were found to contain paradichlorobenzene, a chemical used in mothballs, a spokesman said. He said the amounts were small and led to no illnesses.
"We have no idea how they were contaminated," the spokesman said. "We don't think anything could have been mixed in during production or distribution."
The findings follow a report on Thursday that one woman was made sick after eating the popular "Cup Noodle" snack made by Nissin Food Products Co Ltd.
Nissin has voluntarily recalled half a million cups that were made in the same Japanese factory as the contaminated cup, the company said.
The poisoned noodles have shaken the public's faith in what they eat, with consumers already worried about food safety after a string of scandals, most recently involving products made in China.
The contaminated instant noodles, however, were all from factories in Japan. Media reports said a police investigation was under way.
"Cup Noodle" under the Nissin brand is especially popular among Japanese, both young and old, with flavours ranging from milk seafood to chili tomato.
The noodles scare comes a week after reports that at least one woman was made ill after eating frozen beans imported from China containing insecticide.
Earlier this year, several Japanese were made ill by Chinese-made dumplings that also contained insecticide, incidents that followed several false labelling scandals involving traditional sweets and cookies made in Japan.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Malaysian made Biscuits affected by Melamine
Other than the affected products from China, melamine has been
detected in 17 biscuit products from Malaysia. Test results for the rest of the
imported biscuits, including those from Malaysia, were satisfactory. The
affected Malaysian-made biscuits are:
i) Julie’s Golden Kaka Crackers (11.8-12.8 ppm of melamine detected)
ii) Julie’s Wheat Crackers (4.9-23.4 ppm of melamine detected)
iii) Julie’s Cottage Crackers (Vegetable Yeast Cracker) (0.6-10.8 ppm of melamine detected)
iv) Julie’s Cottage Crackers (Original Yeast Cracker) (10.6 ppm of melamine detected)
v) Julie’s Chez Creamy Cheese Sandwich (172.4 ppm of melamine detected)
vi) Julie’s Sugar Crackers (extra flaky) (18.8 ppm of melamine detected)
vii) Julie’s Waferico Chocolate Coated Wafers with Chocolate Cream Filling (Not Detected - 16.0 ppm of melamine detected)
viii) Julie’s Cream Crackers (33.8 ppm of melamine detected)
ix) Julie’s Minico Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies (20.0 ppm of melamine detected)
x) Julie’s Peanut Butter Sandwich (0.7-12.6 ppm of melamine detected)
xi) Julie’s Cocoro Crispy Chocolate Wafer Rolls with Vanilla Filling (8.04 ppm of melamine detected)
xii) Julie’s Le-Mond Puff Sandwich with Lemon Flavoured Cream (Not Detected - 10.5 ppm of melamine detected)
xiii) Khong Guan Assorted Biscuits (5.4-6.6 ppm of melamine detected)
xiv) Khian Guan Biscuit Osborne (5.3 - 10.8 ppm of melamine detected)
xv) Leo Gold Finger Choco (0.6 - 6.2 ppm of melamine detected)
xvi) Santa Chocolate Gold Fingers (0.7 - 50.8 ppm of melamine detected)
xvii) Swan Chocolate Fingers (4.2 - 12.3 ppm of melamine detected)
Importers and retailers are required to withdraw the affected Malaysian made
biscuits from sale with immediate effect. As 12 of the 17 products are “Julie’s” brand of biscuits, as a precautionary measure, all “Julie’s” brand biscuits are also required to be withdrawn from sale.
AVA advises consumers who have bought the implicated products not to
consume them.
All the 17 affected products will be destroyed under AVA’s supervision.
Ammonium bicarbonate, an approved food additive, had been implicated
in melamine contamination in Malaysian-made biscuits. Hence, in addition to
intensified checks on biscuits, AVA has also tested for melamine contamination
in the raising agents (ammonium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate) used by
biscuit manufacturers in Singapore. Checks have found that the raising agents
used in Singapore for manufacturing of biscuits are of food grade standard and
are not contaminated with melamine.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Khong Guan Biscuits affected by Melamine in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: Eighteen types of biscuits bearing the Khong Guan and Khian Guan brands have been found to contain excessive levels of melamine.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the contamination is from the raising agent ammonium bicarbonate from China which was used to produce the biscuits
As a result, Liow said, ammonium bicarbonate from China was now banned. Ammonium bicarbonate from other countries would be taken for tests.
“Results from our tests found that the melamine level in the ammonium carbonate used for Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuits is 33.4ppm and 508ppm respectively,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
The permissible level of melamine is 2.5 parts per million (ppm).
As a result, Liow said, ammonium bicarbonate from China was now banned. Ammonium bicarbonate from other countries would be taken for tests.
“Results from our tests found that the melamine level in the ammonium carbonate used for Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuits is 33.4ppm and 508ppm respectively,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
The permissible level of melamine is 2.5 parts per million (ppm).
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Three more products with melamine discovered in Singapore
As of 9 October 2008, the AVA has detected melamine in three additional products imported from China. They are:
i) Cadbury Choclairs – Blueberry Flavour (21.4 - 33.9 ppm of melamine detected) ,;
ii) Cadbury Choclairs – Coffee Flavour (92.3 ppm of melamine detected) ,; and
iii) Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder (industrial pack) (163.8 ppm of melamine detected) ,.
The Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder is meant for manufacturing use and is not available in the retail market. The milk powder has also been sealed in the manufacturer’s warehouse since the suspension on 19 September 2008. AVA would like to assure the public that the milk powder has not been used in any food production.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
FDA: Tiny bit of melamine OK in most foods
Tiny traces of melamine, the chemical that has set off a global food safety scare, are not harmful in most foods, except baby formula, government experts said Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday its safety experts have concluded that eating a minuscule amount of melamine _ 2.5 parts per million _ would not raise health concerns, even if a person ate food every day that was tainted with the chemical.
"It would be like if you had a million grains of sand and they were all white, and you had two or three that were black, that's kind of the magnitude," said Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's food safety program.
The FDA guideline is meant to help federal and state investigators checking for contaminated foods from China at ports of entry and in Asian community groceries around the country. "We are trying to identify products that have levels we are really concerned about, rather than trying to find the last molecule," said Sundlof.
In China, melamine-tainted formula has sickened more than 54,000 children, mainly with kidney problems, and is being blamed for the deaths of at least four. The industrial chemical has also turned up in products sold across Asia, ranging from candies, to chocolates, to coffee drinks, all of which used dairy ingredients from China.
In the U.S., White Rabbit candies imported from China have been recalled after authorities in two states found melamine. And Friday, a New Jersey company announced it was recalling a yogurt-type drink from China, 'Blue Cat Flavor Drink,' after FDA testing found melamine.
No illnesses have been reported in the U.S., but authorities are checking for any telltale increase in reports of kidney problems.
The FDA says infant formula sold here is safe, because manufacturers do not use any ingredients from China. But officials expect more melamine recalls as they continue to test products in ethnic markets.
FDA officials stressed that the melamine risk assessment issued Friday does not mean U.S. authorities will condone foods deliberately spiked with the chemical.
The 2.5 parts-per-million standard is meant to address situations in which the chemical accidentally comes into contact with food. For example, plastic food processing equipment may have been made using melamine, and some of the chemical might find its way into food.
Infant formula sold to U.S. consumers must be completely free of melamine. "There is too much uncertainty to set a level in infant formula and rule out any public health concern," the FDA said.
In China, unscrupulous suppliers appear to have been adding melamine to make watered-down milk seem protein-rich in quality-control tests. That's because melamine is high in nitrogen, as is protein.
Melamine first came to the attention of U.S. consumers last year, when it touched off a massive pet food recall. Chinese suppliers of bulk pet food ingredients were found to have been adding the chemical to artificially boost the protein readings of their products. Thousands of pets here were sickened, and hundreds are believed to have died.
Melamine is harmful to the kidneys. It can cause kidney stones as the body tries to eliminate it, and in extreme cases, life-threatening kidney failure.
South Korea finds melamine in China-made Snickers and KitKat
SEOUL, Oct 4 - South Korea's food watchdog has ordered China-manufactured snacks from Nestle SA
The Korea Food and Drug Administration said 2.38 parts per million and 1.78 ppm of the substance were found in M&M's milk chocolate snack and Snickers peanut Fun Size, both produced by Mars and manufactured in China.
"We are urgently recalling the products due to melamine detection," KFDA said in a statement.
Mars said it was temporarily withdrawing the products from the Korean market because it was legally obliged to do so and that the melamine levels announced by the KFDA did not pose a health risk.
Kit Kat bars from Nestle were also found carrying 2.89 ppm of melamine, bringing the total number of melamine-detected items to 10 in Seoul.
Nestle said the KFDA asked it to withdraw one batch of mini Kit Kat made in China from the market, after their tests detected minute traces of melamine in a single batch out of eight Nestle confectionery items tested. No melamine was detected in the other seven products, the company said.
"The company immediately complied with the authorities' request, even though this product is absolutely safe by recognized international standards," Nestle said in a statement.
"South Korea has no regulations on maximum levels of melamine in food, and the conditions under which the South Korean authorities conducted their tests are unclear," it added. Melamine, widely used in kitchen utensils, can pose serious health risks if consumed in large quantities. At least four children in China died after drinking tainted infant milk formula last month.
KFDA said it is currently examining 428 processed products manufactured in China. It had completed checks on 288 items as of Saturday.
(Reporting by Angela Moon; Additional reporting by Sam Cage in Zurich; Editing by Louise Ireland and Ruth Pitchford)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Glow Collagen Drink
Here's the perfect solution for you!
GLOW Collagen Drink
Collagen is the main protein of connective tissues. It is responsible for skin elasticity and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. Glow is a collagen supplement containing the primary ingredient in maintaining healthy skin texture and elasticity.
Picture from Pere Ocean
For more enquiries, please contact:
- Singapore Office:
Tel: 6253 5888
Fax: 6259 8558
Email: enquiries@pereocean.com
- Johor Office:
Tel: (607) 861 1268
Fax: (607) 861 1715
Email: oceanomw@tm.net.my
- Selangor Office:
Tel: (603) 5634 1788
Fax: (603) 5635 1233
Email: wyninind@streamyx.com
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
2 more products contaminated with melamine discovered in Singapore
As of 30 September 2008, the AVA has detected melamine in two additional products imported from China. Both the products contain milk as an ingredient, they are:
i) New Sshmallows Mallow Dippers-Strawberry Flavour (24.8ppm of melamine detected) , and
ii) Silang - House of Steamed Potato - Potato & Tomato Cracker (8.1ppm of melamine detected)
More products discovered to contain melamine in Hongkong
東望洋Coconut Cakes東望洋椰蓉酥 (19 ppm of melamine detected)
東望洋Walnut Cakes東望洋核桃酥 (3.7 ppm of melamine detected)
Glico Pocky Men's Coffee Cream Coated Biscuit Stick (43 ppm of melamine detected)
Lotte Cream Cheese Cake (3.4 ppm of melamine detected)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Food affected by melamine in Hongkong
Lotte Koala Biscuit (FamilyPack)(Chocolate Filled)(DoubleChocolate Flavor) (68ppm of melamine detected)
Lotte Koala's March Chocolate Biscuit (FamilyPack) (57 ppm of melamine detected)
Lotte Koala Strawberry Biscuit (Family Pack) (4.3ppm of melamine detected)
Licheng Milk Slice (Original) (8.3ppm , 4.7ppm of melamine detected);
Heinz DHA+AA Vegetable Fomula Cereal (1.7 ppm of melamine detected);