Recalls & Alerts
FDA: Melamine found in flavored drink
By Sue Mueller
Oct 6, 2008 - 11:49:33 AM

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Monday October 6, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today October 6 that it has detected melamine, the industrial chemical has contaminated the whole dairy industry in China, in Blue Cat Flavor Drink, made by a Chinese company.

The distributor of the products, Tristar Food Wholesale Co. Inc. imitated a recall of several flavors of Blue Cat Flavor Drink, the FDA said in its statement.

The detection resulted from the agency’s intensified inspections and product testing in response to the melamine contamination problem which originated in Chinese dairy products.  

The company on Oct 3 posted the recall as follows:

Tristar Food, Jersey City, NJ is initiating a nationwide recall of all of their 100 ml plastic bottle packages of Blue Cat Flavor Drink (Lanmao) because it may be contaminated with Melamine.

Consumers who have the product which is being recalled should stop using it immediately. If consumers have questions about possible health risks, they should contact their doctor.

Product was distributed nationwide in Asian grocery stores.

The product comes in 100 ml plastic bottles package with a BESTBEFORE date. There are four (4) flavors (see below) printed in Chinese. All packaging has a logo of blue cat on the back of the bottle and the word “blue cat” (in Chinese) on the front.

   1. Strawberry, with red strawberry picture on the bottle.

   2. Sweet Orange, with orange picture on the bottle

   3. Pineapple, with green pineapple picture on the bottle

   4. Peach, with pink peach picture on the bottle

No illnesses associated with this product have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after FDA testing discovered that product was found to contain Melamine.

Consumers who have purchased Blue Cat Flavor Drink (Lanmao) are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 201-938-2590, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5:00, Eastern Standard Time.

The FDA advises that consumers should not consume this product and recommends that retailers and food service operators remove the product from sale or service.

Also, the Taiwanese company, King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd and Sunny Maid Corp. Monterey Park, Calif., which imports the tainted products into the U.S., are recalling seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products due to possible contamination with melamine shown below:

    * Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)

    * Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

The company used a non-dairy creamer made by a Chinese company called Shandong Duqing Inc. in China.

The FDA recommends that the public not consume any of the above Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products and retailers and foodservice operators remove the products from sale or service.

Another company called QFCO Inc., based out of Burlingame, California is also recalling its White Rabbit Creamy Candies in the US.

So far, the FDA said there have no reports of illness associated with ingestion of the tainted products being recalled.