KHUJAND, November 25, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Employees of the Sughd Center for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Supervision have inspected local markets for realization of Chinese products containing milk.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Center deputy head, Nasib Ikromov, said that their specialists yesterday carried out an explanatory work regarding ban put on import and realization of the Chinese products containing milk in the country.   

According to him, the Center employees yesterday inspected totaling 300 shops at the Khujand markets of Nouri Khujand and Afrosiyob (also known as the Afghan bazaar).  According to him, food products from Kazakhstan, Iran, China and Russia account for 35 percent of the overall volume of goods realized on these markets. 

“No Chinese products containing milk were discovered on the markets,” said Ikromov, “No melamine poisoning cases have been registered in the province.  Some 70 kilograms of the Chinese dried milk discovered on the markets a month ago were sent for testing to Dushanbe.”   

He added that they also intended to inspect shops located near schools.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 47 000 infants and young children in China were hospitalized in September and October this year for urinary problems, possible renal tube blockages and possible kidney stones related to the consumption of melamine contaminated infant formula and related dairy products.  Four deaths among infants have been confirmed and cases have also been found in Hong Kong SAR, Macao and Taiwan, China.  Kidney stones in infants are very rare.

Countries have also reported finding melamine in milk containing products, dairy and non-dairy products manufactured in China.  So far, contamination has been found in liquid milk, frozen yogurt dessert, biscuits, candies and in coffee drink.  All these products were most probably manufactured using ingredients made from melamine contaminated milk.  The non-dairy products are animal-based (e.g. eggs) and are likely contaminated through animal feed tainted with melamine. Some countries have taken a range of measures to restrict or ban imports of a number of food products from China containing milk based ingredients.