A brand of sweets manufactured in China has been withdrawn from Irish shops today.
The sweets are called 'White Rabbit Creamy Candies' and are on sale in some Asian and Chinese specialty shops.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) advised they be withdrawn from sale as a precautionary measure. It is feared they may contain melamine.
Melamine is a chemical used for making plastics and tanning leather among other uses. It is high in nitrogen and when added to milk it can make it seem like it has a higher protein content, which allows farmers to cut costs by watering down their products.
Tests conducted by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) found 'unsatisfactory levels' of the chemical in the sweets. The levels found by NZFSA could potentially cause illness, particularly in young children, if the sweets are consumed over an extended period of time. The sweets have been withdrawn in other countries.
The FSAI is advising consumers who may have bought these sweets not to eat them. Retailers and wholesalers are advised to immediately remove these sweets from shelves.
Anyone with any concerns can phone an advice line operated by the FSAI on 1890 33 66 77.
In China's worst health scare in years, more than 53,000 children have been made sick by consuming infant milk formula tainted with melamine and so far four children have died.12,892 children remained hospitalised with kidney problems, 104 of them in a serious condition.