NCA Statement – Candy, Chocolate and Melamine

The NCA strongly supports the FDA’s action to expand testing of food products imported from China that may contain milk, to ensure the safety of foods Americans eat.

Melamine and Candy:

• The NCA’s position is clear: any candy product, regardless of its country of origin, must meet the same stringent safety standards that U.S. products meet.

• Candy imported from China accounts for less than one percent (0.7%) of all confectionery sold in the United States.

• Candy products produced in North America do not contain milk or milk products imported from China. 

• U.S. confectionery companies doing business in China have stringent quality control procedures in place for production of candy. These companies began testing product immediately when the alert on melamine contamination of milk was first issued. To date, only one contaminated product - White Rabbit taffy candy - has been found for sale in the United States and that product has been recalled by the distributor.

• NCA recommends consumers:

• Discard any White Rabbit confectionery product imported from China (White Rabbit is the brand name of a white, chewy, taffy-like candy).
• Be aware that a small shipment of chocolate gold coins in Canada was found to contain melamine.  At this time, the product appears to have been only available in Canada where a recall is underway and the majority of the product has been reclaimed.

If you have questions about melamine and its possible health impacts, you can read more about it on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Web site.