The South Korean government said Wednesday, 15 October 2008 that it found traces of the industrial chemical melamine in five products containing China-produced egg powder used to make sauces and seasonings, reported the Yonhap news agency.

The products were among nine samples collected in recent days following revelations that Japan had found melamine in similar products, said the South Korean news agency, citing the agriculture ministry.

An official from the ministry's livestock product sanitation team, Kang Dae-jin said melamine levels stood at 0.1-4.0 parts per million during tests with the government taking immediate precautions to collect and test all processed egg products imported from China this year.

Dalian Hanovo Foods Co. and Dalian Greensnow Egg Products Development Co. were requested to halt exports and health authorities were called upon to determine how melamine first entered into locally produced powdered milk.