The report states that independent tests carried out by government authorities over the last week in Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea and Malaysia have cleared Mars chocolate and confectionery products. In addition, an independent laboratory in Germany has also tested samples of milk powders supplied to Mars China's factory and informed Mars that all samples were clear of melamine.
Mars China claims it does not source milk or any other ingredients for any of its products from any company which has been found to be selling melamine contaminated dairy products. Mars' domestic suppliers of milk powder own and control the pipeline from milk to collection to milk processing, without interference by traders or other middlemen. In the last two weeks, AQSIQ (the Chinese food safety watchdog) tested product samples of Mars China's milk powder suppliers and informed Mars China that all such samples were free of melamine.
In light of the above, Mars is extremely surprised about the recent announcement that tests conducted by the BPOM, the Indonesian regulatory authority, have shown that M&Ms® and Snickers® products made in China (as well as those produced by Kraft which contains dairy ingredients sourced solely from Australia) contain melamine.
The results announced by the BPOM conflict with and are completely inconsistent with all analytical results received to date by Mars from governmental agencies and independent laboratories across Asia and Europe. The vastly different results give Mars significant reason to question the validity of the Indonesian laboratory results. Mars says it is currently in contact with the Indonesian authorities with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the methodology used and the basis upon which BPOM has reached its conclusions.
Based on the above, the company remains confident that none of its chocolate or confectionery products made in China include any dairy ingredients adulterated with melamine and that all of its products are safe for consumption.
Mars says it will continue to work with the relevant Indonesian authorities to resolve this issue and swiftly clear up the inconsistencies. The company is open to the testing of any of its products through an authoritative laboratory or government testing agency.
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