Khong Guan, Khian Guan biscuits have high level of melamine (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Khong Guan and Khian Guan brand biscuits have been found to contain excessive levels of melamine.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 18 out of the 47 products produced by the two manufacturers contained more than the permissible level of malamine, which is 2.5mg/kg or 2.5 parts per million (ppm).

He said the manufacturers had been instructed to recall all 18 biscuit products from the market.

“We have also requested that they voluntarily recall the rest of the products (the remaining 29),” he said.

Asked if they had agreed to do so, Liow said: “Yes, they are very responsive. They are responsible companies.”

Liow said the ministry had traced the source of the melamine to ammonium bicarbonate, the levelling agent used.

He said the ammonium bicarbonate used by both manufacturers was from China.

As such, Liow had banned the import of ammonium bicarbonate from China, placing the substance under Level 6 Examination (Auto Rejection), while ammonium bicarbonate from other countries is placed under Level 4 Examination (Surveillance Examination).

Excessive melamine was first linked to contaminated dairy products, but Liow said the ministry would now be more alert and test more products other than those with dairy content due to the ammonium bicarbonate findings.

On Oct 6, White Rabbit Creamy Candy was found to contain more than 50 times the permitted level of melamine and was banned by the ministry.