MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking) assured consumers Sunday that its member-companies have not been using flour and milk from China, many of which have been found to contain melamine, a toxic substance used in making plastics.

PhilBaking president Simplicio Umali Jr. said in a statement given at the Tinapayan forum that the skimmed milk they use is imported from New Zealand, US, Australia, Denmark and Holland.

Among the member-companies of PhilBaking are Gardenia, Julie's, Creative Bakers (Walter and Real Good brand), Marby, Uncle George, Sanmaru (Tiffany), Lemon Square, Suncrest, Fortune bakeshop, French Baker, Le Couer de France, Cindys, Mr. Donuts, Dunkin Donuts and Go Nuts Donuts.

Four babies have died in China, while tens of thousands more have fallen ill with kidney stones due to the melamine manufacturers are discovered to have added to milk formula in a bid to mask deficient protein content.