Press Release
July 16, 2007

PIMENTEL BACKS BFAD'S ACTION ON
PULLOUT OF CONTAMINATED POWDERED MILK

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today backed the decisive action of the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD) in ordering a multinational company to pull out and destroy canned powdered milk that it found to be contaminated and dangerous for human consumption.

Pimentel was informed by a top official of BFAD that Wyeth International had withdrawn 64,000 cans of powdered milk from the market in compliance with the bureau's directive after the contamination was discovered. The deadline for the pullout was July 10.

However, what was pulled out from the market represents only a fraction of the 4.3 million cans of the powdered milk believed to contaminated, according to the BFAD official who briefed the senator on the matter.

Pimentel was told that most of the milk products had already been consumed or sold to consumers and being stored in their homes.

"We are supporting the stand of the BFAD in the controversy over the contaminated powdered milk. I am very happy that BFAD stood up for our people," he said.

"That's a very difficult decision to do considering the clout that big multinational companies have in the country. And yet BFAD took a stand and I support the demand of BFAD. Indeed, if these milk containers are corrupted already, they should be discarded and publicly withdrawn from the market. And this should not be done quietly because how would the people know if the BFAD order has been fully complied with?"

Pimentel also agreed with the BFAD's directive to Wyeth to take steps to recall even the contaminated powdered milk already in the possession of consumers.

Wyeth itself was required to destroy the recalled milk products by burning them in incinerators in the presence of representatives of the BFAD and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The BFAD turned down a request of the milk company to first conduct a test on the recalled canned powdered milk believing it was a "trap" to persuade the government to allow the sale of the same if they turn out to be negative for contamination.

At the same time, Pimentel urged BFAD to expand its probe to include "dangerous" products from other countries including agricultural products and toys painted over with toxic materials that are flooding the local market.

"I call upon BFAD to expand its inquiry so that they can earn their keep rather than just keep quiet about what is happening in the country as if they cannot do anything."

Farm products from China are reportedly being soaked in toxic chemicals like formalin as preservative. On the other hand, the toys imported from China are reportedly tainted with lead which is also toxic.

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