Manila - Two Chinese milk brands being sold in the Philippines have been tested positive for melamine contamination, the country's health chief said Friday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that Greenfood Yili Pure Milk and Mengniu Original Drink Milk were found to have traces of the toxic industrial chemical melamine.
The government's Bureau of Food and Drug was testing at least 54 milks and milk products following a scandal in China where four infants have died and thousands hospitalized after drinking infant formula contaminated with melamine.
"Only two have been tested positive (of melamine contamination) so far," he said.
Duque said 28 other products were found to have no traces of melamine contamination. He added that the results of the tests for the remaining products will be released early next week.
Melamine is used as a binding agent and coating for particle, fibre and laminated board. It is also used to make fertilizer.
The Philippines banned last week the sale and import of Chinese milk and milk products over fears of melamine contamination.
Supermarkets, groceries and stores have been ordered to pull from their shelves products included in the list of the 54 tested products.
