Australia Checks Kraft Amid Dairy Scandal

Australia is investigating Kraft in the wake of the scandal that has found melamine in China-made dairy products.
Australia Checks Kraft Amid Dairy Scandal
10/9/2008
Updated:
10/9/2008
Australian food safety regulator said that Kraft is being investigated in the wake of the scandal that has found the industrial chemical melamine in numerous made-in-China dairy products.

“We have specifically asked for ingredient list for Ritz biscuits,” said Lydia Bruchtman, The Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) media coordinator.

Ritz Cheese Crackers, manufactured in China under Kraft’s offshore brand Nabisco, are currently sold in major supermarket chains like Woolworths and Coles. The product contains 6 percent cheddar cheese.

Last week Nabisco Cheese Sandwich biscuits were recalled in South Korea, after testing positive to melamine—a chemical used to make glue, fertilizer, and plastics.

Melamine presence in baby formula across China has led to the deaths of four infants, while at least 50,000 are suffering from kidney disease. The chemical easily mimics protein components and masks the otherwise low nutritional value.

According to media reports Kraft Foods and Mars suspended their Indonesian sales of Oreo cookies, M&M’s, and Snickers bar in late September. Tests made by the Indonesian FDMA have also revealed traces of melamine.

However, the US-based Kraft has denied that any of their products contain Chinese dairy. The Australian Kraft Company says that 91 percent of the products are made from Australian ingredients.

“In the biscuits we use Australian and New Zealand dairy,” said Simon Talbot, the head of Corporate Kraft Management for Australia and New Zealand.

When questioned about the safety checks carried out at Kraft’s Chinese factories, Mr. Talbot assured that all tests are done in accordance with international and Australian standards.

However, once the Chinese Kraft biscuits are wrapped for sale, they are not retested upon entry to Australia, says Mr. Talbot.

Since the melamine scandal erupted in late September, three products have undergone voluntary recalls in Australia—White Rabbit candy, Kiren tea, and Cadbury éclairs. The later have since been cleared as safe, after testing came negative for melamine.

FSANZ says that daily checks are being carried out. To date 80 products have been tested for melamine.