Oct 2, 2008 8:23 pm US/Eastern
Chinese Tainted Milk Scare Hits Tri-State
Teacher In Croton-Harmon School District Accidentally Hands Out Feared 'White Rabbit Candies'
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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A package of Sanlu brand infant formula reportedly tainted with melamine is seen in this file photo.
AP
Fallout from the tainted milk scandal in China has reached the tri-state area.
A school district is moving to reassure parents after Chinese candy -- some made with the contaminated milk -- was handed out by a teacher.
It was meant to be a taste of the culture for students in the new Chinese language program at Van Cortlandt Middle School. Beginning several weeks ago, teacher Sophie Wang gave students "White Rabbit Candies" -- a milk toffee popular with youngsters in China.
But then she learned the candies have been pulled from store shelves after some batches were tainted with melamine, the chemical at the heart of the milk scandal in China.
"She immediately stopped and actually told the children quite truthfully there was some question about the candy and she would not give them any more of the candy," Croton-Harmon superintendent Marjorie Castro said.
The superintendent immediately contacted the Food and Drug Administration, which said the threat to children is virtually non-existent because the melamine levels are microscopic.
A 60-pound child would have to gorge on 290 pieces to exceed the FDA's "tolerable daily intake" for melamine.
Still, given ongoing concerns over Chinese products parents are debating the teacher's decision to hand out Chinese-made candy.
"I would feel that people would be pretty annoyed at her judgment call," one parent told CBS 2 HD.
Added teacher Adele Kamp: "If she knew of the recall, obviously, she would not have done it. I'm a teacher, too, and we do the best we can."
Kids eat a lot of candy this time of year. Many Halloween novelties like these are made in China. The FDA said many are safe. The recall is limited to certain candies made with milk.
Only certain batches of White Rabbits were made with tainted milk. Tainted candies have been found in California and Connecticut -- so far.
More than 50,000 babies in China were sickened by tainted formula, but officials said the risk of sickness from food products made with tainted milk is extremely low.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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