SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has
taken samples of dried fruit products sold in Singapore for laboratory
testing.
The move comes after a US Food and Drug Administration report last
week warned people not to consume dried fruit, including dried plums
and prunes, due to lead contamination.
Responding to queries from MediaCorp, AVA said the products have
not been pulled off the shelves as the agency is still awaiting the lab
results which will be out in a few days.
On Thursday, Malaysia's Health Ministry put dried fruit products
from China and other Asian countries on Level 5 alert because of their
high levels of lead.
With a Level 5 alert, the ministry will hold the products to test
them for lead content before they can be released into the market.
The highest alert, Level 6, involves an immediate ban of the product.
- CNA/vm
AVA: Dried plums and prunes sold in Singapore safe for consumption
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority or AVA says imported dried
plums and prunes sold in Singapore do not contain elevated levels of
lead.
AVA stepped up checks on imported dried fruit products from countries such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and took samples for
laboratory testing.
This comes after an alert was issued by the Texas Department of State
Health Services last week, stating that elevated levels of lead were
found in certain imported dried plums and prunes products.
AVA says test results showed that the samples are satisfactory and are safe for consumption.
It adds that the agency will also test other types of dried fruit products for lead.
--938Live