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Consumer Group Calls for U.S. Ban on Chinese Milk Products

Food & Water Watch Demands FDA Close Borders Until Situation is Under Control

Washington, DC - As the scope of the contaminated milk scandal in China continues to grow, national consumer group Food & Water Watch today called on the Food and Drug Administration to stop the import of dairy products and milk-derived ingredients from China, and urged food manufacturers to test any milk-derived ingredients they have already purchased. 

“It is now clear that China has exported dairy products like powdered milk and milk protein products around the globe and we know that some of them came to the United States, ” said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch.  “This year the United States has already imported 2 million pounds of powdered milk protein ingredients like casein.  It is time for FDA to take this issue seriously and stop the import of dairy products from China until this situation is under control.”

According to USDA figures, this year the United States has imported 2 million pounds of a milk protein called casein and other powdered milk proteins that are used as ingredients in many processed foods.  This includes 293,000 pounds that were imported in July, when some Chinese authorities were aware of the contamination of dairy products with melamine. 

Currently, FDA has committed to perform an unspecified level of inspection of imported dairy ingredients at the border and to look for infant formula from China at Asian grocery markets in major U.S. cities.  In a letter to FDA, Food & Water Watch urged the agency to go further and stop the import of dairy products and milk-based ingredients into the United States.  

The group also called on food manufacturers to immediately verify that their milk-based ingredients did not originate in China and urges them to test any remaining supplies for contaminants like melamine.

“The pet food scandal last year should have taught FDA and U.S. food manufacturers the importance of sourcing ingredients from places with a record of safe production practices,” said Hauter.  “The discovery that more than 50,000 children have been made sick from tainted infant formula is yet another tragic example that the Chinese food safety system is not capable of protecting consumers in China or their export markets.” 

To view the Food & Water Watch letter to FDA, please visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/releases/FDA-melamine-milk-letter.

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.