Sales of milk powder in local drug stores, such as this one in Hung Hom, have risen thanks to an increased number of mainland customers coming to Hong Kong and Macao after news reports came out about the contamination of certain milk powders on the mainland. Louise Ho

Health officials yesterday asked the public not to panic about consuming mainland-produced milk products, as there is no evident suggesting that the products imported to Hong Kong, other than a popsicle, contain melamine or have been contaminated.

The officials also stressed that none of the contaminated milk powders produced by 22 mainland firms had been imported to Hong Kong.

The attempt to allay public worries about mainland milk products yesterday came after it was found that a Shanghai-manufactured Yili product called "Natural Choice Yogurt Flavored Ice Bar with Real Fruit" (90ml) contained melamine.

After meeting with the Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Li Changjiang in Beijing, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said that he hadn't ruled out the possibility of manufacturers using the contaminated milk powder to produce processed food, and the Hong Kong Authority will conduct tests on foods with milk content.

He added that there are no infants suffering from kidney stones in Hong Kong. Doctors are told to report suspicious cases to the authority, which believes that some mainland infants may seek medical treatment in Hong Kong, he added.

In Hong Kong, the controller of the Centre for Food Safety, Constance Chan, said they have collected 40 samples of milk products from retailers for testing - the results of which will be announced today.

Among the samples, 35 were produced by Yili and Mengniu groups, whose products were found to be contaminated on the mainland. One of the remaining five samples is Nestle milk powder.

Constance Chan, controller of the Centre for Food Safety

"We need to be objective and scientific," Chan said. "Some mainland products have tested negative. There is no need to advise the public to refrain from buying a particular brand. We don't want to create panic in the community."

The center has been criticized for not informing the public of the contaminated Yili popsicle immediately.

It wasn't until Wellcome supermarkets pulled the popsicle off shelves Tuesday that the center made an announcement.

Chan explained that the center needed to give sufficient time to the retailers to make product recalls and other related arrangements before making a public announcement.

She added that the authority liaised with retailers and importers yesterday, ensuring that they will stop selling the products if they are found contaminated.

She said the importers have promised to closely watch the market conditions, in which the demand for milk powder is increasing because of higher demand by mainland parents.

People in Hong Kong's Times Square watch Yang Chongyong, the vice-governor of Hebei province, where Sanlu Group is located, answer media questions yesterday. He said four suppliers had been arrested for selling melamine-laced milk to the company. CNS

(HK Edition 09/18/2008 page1)