BANGKOK, Aug 7 – Manufacturers of infant dairy milk in Thailand are required to report to the Public Health Ministry by tomorrow on the origins of their imported dairy products, according to a senior official of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA secretary general Boonchai Somboonsook met with manufacturers of infant dairy milk and energy drinks yesterday after Fonterra, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, said it found bacteria in some products that could cause botulism.
Fonterra said contaminated whey protein concentrate had been exported to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia and used in products including infant milk powder and sports drinks.
Dr Boonchai expressed appreciation to Dumex Thailand for withdrawing some dairy milk formulae, imported from New Zealand, from the local market after suspected contamination.
Thailand imports dairy ingredients from Australia, the United States and Europe.
He urged consumers to avoid the batch of dairy milk as announced by the FDA and instructed all hospitals to immediately inform the FDA if they found patients with botulism.
