Monitoring on for contaminated milk

Personnel of the Food and Drug Administration in Central Visayas (FDA-7) yesterday began monitoring establishments in Region 7 for China-manufactured milk formula that could contain mercury.

FDA-7 supervisor Rica Aumentado ordered the inspection of supermarkets and stores after receiving the advisory Thursday. Stores selling Chinese products will also be monitored, she said.

The Department of Health-FDA advisory issued on Wednesday said they “detected unusual levels of mercury”in Quan You baby formula which was ordered pulled out.

Consumers were advised that the infant formula manufactured and sourced from Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group is not registered with FDA and has no record of application.

DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Asuncion Anden asked the public to monitori milk formulas which could contain mercury.

“We have a limited number of inspectors and the public can help us address this concern,” Anden said.

The public is urged to report any store selling these products by calling FDA 7 hotline 418-7634 or visit their office at the DOH-7 compound.

Central Visayas has 10 inspectors, Aumentado said.

Mercurty, a heavy metal, if ingested by babies and pregnant women, can cause neurological development impairment.

“It may not have reached Central Visayas. We have to make sure they don’t enter the Philippines,” Anden said. Correspondent Jessa Agua