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ROK finds melamine in Spain-made food additive

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-25 13:52

SEOUL -- The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said on Tuesday that it found melamine in food additive made in Spain and ordered to ban sales of 12 snacks and drinks.

According to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), 8.4- 21.9 parts per million of the chemical melamine was found in an iron-fortifying product made in Spain by a German company.

It said 5,400 kg of the additive made by Chemische Fabrik Budenheim KG was imported by a local importer and sold to Haitai Beverage, Orion Corp, Daedoo Food Co and three other food and drink manufacturers.

The food and drinks made with the ingredient are being recalled so they can be tested for contamination, an official of the KFDA told South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

The KFDA said it is trying to determine how melamine got into the Spanish food additive and is engaged in a joint probe with New Zealand and the European Union.