As the Chinese milk scandal continues to cause alarm around the world, concerned parents in Saudi Arabia are asking the same questions as their Asian counterparts. “It is shocking”, said Saudi mother-of-one Aysha Ba-Usman. “Although I trust other Chinese products, my faith in their dairy industry has gone. Unfortunately, I don't know how to get accurate information on the source of the dairy products we consume in the Kingdom.” Ba-Usman, who has an infant child, said that as soon as she heard about the problem with Chinese milk she went to check the tin of her baby's formula fearing that the words “Made in China” would be on the label. China does not export milk products to Saudi Arabia. Bandar Rawas, the Commercial authority of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said tainted powder milk availability in Kingdom is not so simple. “We do not have any official dealing for the product of powder milk from China. Registered companies of the Kingdom have their own setup of dairy farming,” he said. That is not to suggest that both the public and the authorities should not be alert to dangers. Shamim Rehan, a housewife in Jeddah, once fed her 6-month-old child with powdered milk purchased from an Arabic speaking vendor with assurance of extra nutrition contained in it. “I do not know why I bought the packet from him with full trust and hoped that it would be beneficial to my child. But, after three feeds, my child started vomiting and had severe diarrhea. Then doctor warned me not to commit that mistake again. My son is now 4 years old and has been underweight ever since the powder milk made him ill,” she said. It would also not be the first time the Kingdom has experienced a scare with baby milk. In January 2003, the Saudi Ministry of Commerce ordered the withdrawal of powdered milk for babies called “EnfaCare – Lipil”. The product had been found to be contaminated by germs which in rare cases can cause bacterial poisoning, meningitis, severe enteritis, and Entercolitis Necrotizing. However, a new law comes into force in Saudi Arabia from May this year, enforcing the World Health Organization marketing requirements for baby foods. The law includes 28 Articles on the marketing of baby milk, food substitutes, baby bottles and pacifiers. It bans the advertising and promotion of baby milk and food substitutes, including the offering of free samples at hospitals and clinics. Unlike many countries, parents in Saudi Arabia can count themselves fortunate that they can depend on local dairy products. The milk scare has spread to other areas also. A leading coffee chain had been getting its milk supply for its more than 300 cafes in mainland China from Chinese milk firm Mengniu Dairy, whose products have also been found to be contaminated, but immediately ceased to use Mengniu Dairy once the scandal became known. An official at the coffee chain branch in Jeddah said: “We have stringent quality control and there is no chance at all that any contaminated milk from China has reached the Kingdom.” __
