BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Eleven kinds of
Cadbury-brand candies have been pulled from shops here, the Beijing Times
reported on Wednesday.
The affected products were made by Cadbury's Beijing
plant and also distributed to Hong Kong. They include Cadbury Dark Chocette 45g,
Cadbury Dark Chocette 80g, Cadbury Hazelnut Praline Chocolate 312g (2008 Chinese
New Year) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate 300g(2008 Chinese New Year).
The newspaper cited a letter dated Monday from
Cadbury Asia Pacific based in Singapore to all of its marketing dealers saying
that they had suspicions about some elements used in products madeby Cadbury's
Beijing factory and insisted the products be withdrawn until those suspicions
were dispelled by lab work.
Cadbury Asia Pacific was said to have received an
oral notice from Hong Kong customs that Cadbury products were suspected of
containing substances similar to melamine. The company was conducting an
internal inspection.
Pending lab results, Cadbury global headquarters made
the decision, out of safety considerations, to withdraw the products from sale
temporarily.
A saleswoman with Carrefour's outlet in Guangqumen,
Beijing confirmed they were told on Monday to remove from the shelves but not
recall all Cadbury products and seal them.
The company also published a service telephone line
(4006501683) for consumers wanting to know about returns.
"We have paid close attention to developments in the
scandal about dairy products tainted by the chemical melamine in China," Cadbury
said in the letter. "We won't replenish our products untilthey are confirmed to
be qualified for consumption."
Apart from supplying domestic markets with 10 kinds
of chocolate and one type of candy known as Yikoulian, the Beijing factory also
exports some of its products to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.