May 10, 2011

Korean dairy products safe for consumption

Milk products made by four South Korean dairy companies are safe to drink because traces of formaldehyde found in them pose no health threat to consumers, a local trade association said on Monday (May 9).

The claim follows last week's similar verdict by the country's veterinary quarantine service that traces of the bactericide detected in milk products of the companies (Maeil Dairies Co., Seoul Milk, Namyang Dairy Products Co., and Dongwon Dairy Foods) are all within "natural limits" set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are safe to consume.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said that samples of milk made by the companies had formaldehyde concentration levels of 0.002-0.026 parts per million (ppm).

The NVRQS checked 45 samples of milk from the four companies after concerns were raised over imported feed containing formalin, a liquid form of formaldehyde, that was fed to dairy cows.

"The levels found are well below the 0.013-0.057 ppm levels that the WHO said can be found naturally in a variety of products," the Korea Dairy Industries Association said.

It pointed out that international studies showed apples and pears had formaldehyde levels up to 22.3 ppm and 60 ppm, respectively, with numbers reaching 165 ppm for squid and 20 ppm for pork.

The association added that it is an accepted practice to add small levels of formaldehyde to animal feed to destroy bacteria and to help produce more nutrients in milk such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA can benefit young children's brain development and help people with heart disease.

Reflecting the lack of risks posed by minute levels of formaldehyde found, local retailers have all started selling milk products that were checked following the quarantine service's announcement of its findings.