Tainted candy distributed locally
By GARRETT NEESE, DMG WriterHANCOCK - A Chinese candy containing a chemical linked to infant illnesses was distributed locally before it was pulled from shelves.
White Rabbit Creamy Candy was recalled after it was discovered to contain melamine, an industrial chemical. The Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department is advising anyone with remaining bars not to eat the candy.
No illnesses have been associated with the candy, the federal Food and Drug Administration said in a September release. People who have experienced health problems after eating the candy should consult a health care professional.
Lynne Madison, director of the Health Department's environmental health division, said she had heard no reports of illness locally.
"My guess is that the amount in comparison to the formula that was distributed in China was much, much less," she said.
The candy was available for purchase at Jim's Food Mart in Houghton, and was distributed at the Parade of Nations in September. Mary Voght, assistant manager at Jim's Food Mart, said the store made a one-time purchase for the Parade of Nations.
"We thought it was cool, at the International Parade, having some international candy," Voght said.
In the days after the parade, the rest of the candy was available for sale at Jim's.
"We had a couple leftover ones we tried to sell, but there was one person who bought it," Voght said.
The FDA is sampling and testing milk-derived ingredients and products containing milk from Chinese sources. Ingredients containing melamine have been linked to child illnesses in China, primarily through contaminated infant formula. More than 46,000 children have been hospitalized in China from drinking milk containing melamine, the global news service Agence France-Presse reported Thursday.
Jim's Food Mart got notice of the recall on Sept. 30, at which time they destroyed the rest of the candy, Voght said. Consumers who purchased the candy from Jim's are urged to return it for a full refund.
"If the kids have any leftovers, the parents should definitely destroy them, and make sure the kids don't eat them," Voght said.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.
