Taipei - Nestle Taiwan agreed on Thursday to refund consumers after 10 more brands of its China-made milk powder were found to contain small traces of the toxic chemical melamine. "Beginning today, consumers can ask for refund at the sales outlets where they bought the products before November 30, regardless of whether the containers are already opened and whether they still have the payment receipts or not," the company said in a statement.
It also said consumers can choose to replace the old products with new ones supplied from countries outside China by the beginning of November.
The statement followed sharp criticism from local consumers that the company required buyers to show payment receipts in order to refund or change the products.
It came a day after the Taipei Health Bureau announced its latest inspection results, saying that 10 more brands of Nestle milk powder supplied by Shuangcheng Nestle based in Heilongjiang, China were found to contain 0.123 to 2.02 parts per million (ppm) of melamine.
Taiwan's top health authority, the Department of Health, announced on October 2 that six brands of Nestle milk powder from China were slightly tainted, although still safe to consume.
Nestle Taiwan said since October 2, it has removed all milk powder produced in China from supermarket shelves.
It said although all Nestle milk powder products made in China meet international health standards, and that the Taiwanese health authorities also said there is no safety concerns, Nestle Taiwan still decided to recall all China-made milk powder.
Taiwan has barred import of dairy and non-dairy products from China following news reports of infant deaths and kidney problems related to consumption of Chinese milk powder. It has also ordered all such products taken from shelves, pending inspection.
Nestle's adult milk powder accounts for 40 per cent of Taiwan's adult milk power market while its baby milk power makes up 10 per cent of Taiwan's baby milk powder market.
