Melamine test clears Lankan product: Envoy

The Sri Lankan mission in Doha has dismissed media reports that Munchee Lemon Puff biscuit, imported from Sri Lanka, was contaminated with toxic melamine.

Ambassador Vijaya Padukkage told The Peninsula that the market samples test conducted by the Health Science Authority (HAS) in Singapore has cleared the product.

"When the media reported that the Sri Lanka-made biscuit was tainted, the company was unilaterally pulling off the product from the shelves in Qatar. No Qatari authorities, including the National Health Authority (NHA), had asked us to do so", Padukkage said.

In Sri Lanka too, the ambassador said, the ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, directed for a withdrawal of the biscuit immediately after the reports of melamine content.

The Sri Lankan mission said Munchee Lemon Puff was also cleared by the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition of Sri Lanka following the receipt of test results of market samples.

Munchee Lemon Puff is manufactured by Ceylon Biscuits Limited with a reputation of serving both the local and international market over the last forty years.

With the food analysts clearing the biscuit, the Health Care and Nutrition Ministry has lifted the ban on the product, he said.

The ambassador said Ceylon Biscuits Limited had sourced all milk ingredients from Australia, Holland and Canada.

The Company had never used milk products from China in manufacturing any of their products.

The Company will continue to follow stringent quality control procedures in accordance with the international and local quality assurance standards where materials are tested prior to use, and the products are quality checked during production and post-production.

"As the leading exporter of biscuits and confectionary products to over 40 countries, the company also complies with both International and Sri Lankan food regulations", the ambassador added.