Yet More Lembu Issues - Lembu milk safe, oyster sauce flawed

The Malay Mail, November 24th

MALACCA: The Health Ministry admits the oyster sauce being sold at Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) is flawed, as claimed by DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua recently.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said they had made verifications on the product and took two samples to analyse their protein content.

“The analysis results showed that both samples did not meet the required protein standard under Regulation 166A of the Food Regulations 1985,” he told a Press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

“The samples contained 0.8 per cent and one per cent protein, less than the standard 2.5 per cent protein requirement for oyster sauce.”

Liow said he ordered the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to remove the product from the market.

Pua had said lab findings found the KR1M oyster sauce contained only flavourings and 0.6 per cent of protein.

Liow, however, rubbished Pua’s other claim on deficiencies in the 1Malaysia Growing Up Milk Powder for children above one year old.

Pua had claimed the product carried 6,012 international units (IU) of Vitamin A per 100kcal, which is 802 per cent above permissible limit.

Said Liow: “What Tony Pua said is not true. There are three types of milk formulas — infant formula for those below one year old, follow-up formula for kids between one and three years old, and the growing up formula for those above three years.

“After conducting verification on the milk powder, we found the product does not contain excessive Vitamin A.

“The Food Regulations 1985 states that the Vitamin A content in the product should not exceed 5,000IU and the 1Malaysia Growing Up Milk Powder contains only 3,240IU.

“The growing up formula is under Regulation 395 while the infant formula and the follow-up formula have its own standards and requirements under the Food Regulations 1985.

He said six other KR1M products, including meehoon and blackcurrant drinks, were also tested and found to adhere to regulations.

Liow said Pua was trying to confuse the public and politicise the issue.

“Tony Pua has twisted the specifications on these different formulas.”

“I would like to ask for Tony Pua’s cooperation.

“If there is any product which he has doubts on, he should send it to the ministry for checks. He cannot take action on his own because he is not an expert in it.”

There are three KR1M outlets in the Klang Valley.