'Vitasoy free of melamine'

VITASOY International Holdings Limited (VIHL) has announced that their products are free from any melamine contamination contrary to what was reported through online media and newswire reports.

Dismissing the report, the company said in an announcement that Vitasoy soyabean milk products use soya beans as the principle ingredient, supplemented by milk powder as a minor ingredient.

The group predominantly uses milk powder produced in New Zealand and Australia and all tests results so far, including those conducted by the Centre for Food and Safety of Hong Kong, have revealed that Vitasoy Soymilk and Vita Milk range of products showed satisfactory results.

The recent announcement was brought to light by Ying Bee Company, the sole distributor of Vitasoy products in Brunei Darussalam.

According to a press statement issued by Ying Bee Company, their distribution of the products in the sultanate is in compliance with the market's current safety measures.

The products that are currently available in the market do not contain any milk powder and is manufactured in Hong Kong.

The list of products currently available in the local market include:

Vitasoy Soya Bean Drink Tetra 250 ml; Vitasoy Soya Bean Drink Tetra 375 ml; Vitasoy Soya Bean Drink Tetra 1 litre; Vita/Vitasoy Pure Soya Bean Extract Tetra 1 Litre; Vitasoy Malt Soya Bean Drink Tetra 250 ml

Australia and New Zealand milk powder is used in the manufacturing of Vitasoy Red Bean Soya Milk Tetra 250 ml, which is done in Hong Kong, and no milk powder is used to make Vitasoy Soya Bean Drink Tetra 125 ml, which is manufactured in Mainland China, the statement said.

However as Ying Bee Company is complying to the current safety measures taken by the Ministry of Health, products that are manufactured in China will be withdrawn.

These products are the glass bottled Vitasoy Soya Milk 236 ml, the glass bottled Vitasoy Malted Soya Milk 236 ml and the Vitasoy Malted Soya Milk 125 ml.

The press statement further said that independent lab reports regarding the matter obtained from the Centre for Food Safety of Hong Kong have been submitted to the Ministry of Health and that the company is still awaiting further instructions from the Ministry.

The Ministry of Health could not be contacted for confirmation regarding this matter yesterday. (SRH1) The Brunei Times