Breaking News: Now Melamine-enriched!

Yet another famous biscuit brand widely available in Qatar has been added to the growing list of melamine-contaminated food products. A Hong Kong food safety watchdog yesterday alleged traces of melamine were found in Croley Foods Sunflower Crackers (pictured).

The Philippine-made biscuit sold in many hypermarkets and grocery stores here has made it to the list of products tainted by toxic melamine substance that has stoked fear among consumers around the world and rocked China's food industry.

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety which has been conducting tests since last month said the biscuit along with a brand of eggs from China contained melamine.

Earlier, hypermarkets in Doha have pulled off shelves popular Sri Lankan biscuit Lemon Puff Munchee following reports by Swiss authorities it was melamine contaminated. Health Science Authority of the Health Ministry in Singapore, however, had later cleared the biscuit of any melamine content.

Also Qatari authorities have stepped up measures to ensure that the local market is free from melamine tainted products; these include a meeting of officials of Food Safety Committee of the National Health Authority (NHA) and making more stringent checks at the NHA's port control section. Sources from Central Food Laboratory under the NHA have earlier said the laboratory is also currently upgrading itself to locally conduct melamine tests.

Meanwhile, Premier Wen Jiabao of China - the country mostly affected by the scandal - vowed yesterday to win back the trust of the world by having the Chinese food exports meet international norms.