BUTTERWORTH: The Seberang Prai Utara Health Department yesterday buried in a landfill biscuits and ingredients worth RM100,000 which were found to contain excessive levels of melamine.

Its health officer, Dr Shaari Saad, said 12 tonnes of biscuits and 8.4 tonnes of ammonium bicarbonate were surrendered by manufacturers after tests revealed that they contained excessive levels of melamine.

Dr Shaari witnessed the disposal of the seized items at the Ampang Jajar landfill here. Also present was state Health Department legal and inspectorate chief Ideris Mohammed.

Dr Shaari said manufacturers here had given full cooperation in surrendering the products.

The Health Ministry allows one milligramme of melamine per kilogramme for infant foods and 2.5 mg/kg for other foods.
Melamine is a nitrogen-rich synthetic substance. It is sometimes added to food to increase protein content.

However, it is known to cause kidney and urinary problems in humans and animals when it reacts with cyanuric acid in the body.

Dr Shaari said the district Health Department would continue collecting random samples of biscuits and dairy products to monitor levels of melamine in food.

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