China watchdog refutes infant formula trans-fat report

BEIJING - The levels of trans-fat acids in Chinese mainland infant formula are within national and international safety standards, and such content is also found in imported milk powder, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) said on Tuesday.

The comments issued in a statement are a clear refutation of an earlier overseas report that claimed three popular mainland infant milk brands contain "trans-fat that experts say could lead to heart disease and should be avoided by infants," citing tests that found 0.4 to 0.6 grams of trans-fat per 100 grams of milk powder.

The CFDA said it has found trans-fat between 0.019 and 0.574 grams per 100 grams of milk powder in mainland baby formulas, but these levels are within national and international standards that set the limit of the content ratio at no more than 3 percent of total fatty acids, a fact that the report also acknowledged.

Lacking solid support from experts to back its claim of the levels being harmful, the report went on to say that two other popular overseas brands sold in Hong Kong and the mainland were tested to contain no trans-fat.

However, the CFDA said in Tuesday's statement it has found such content, ranging from 0.024 to 0.367 grams per 100 grams of milk powder, in 197 imported infant milk powders.