California-based Queensway Foods Company Inc., a U.S. distributor of White Rabbit Candy, has recalled every flavor of the Chinese-produced White Rabbit candy it had imported.
Testing found dangerous levels of the toxic industrial chemical melamine in the White Rabbit candy, state health officials said Monday.
Chinese candy manufacturer White Rabbit used melamine-tainted Chinese milk products in production of its candies. Melamine was illegally added to milk and milk products in China to boost the protein content to command higher prices.
When the industrial chemical is added to food products, it boosts the apparent protein content. Melamine was the chemical found in pet food products imported from China that sickened and killed numerous American dogs and cats.
In recalling the White Rabbit candies, Queensway was responding to consumer warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Health and the San Mateo Public Health Department.
Consumption of melamine can cause illness ranging from kidney stones to kidney failure and death.
There have been no reports of illness in the United States linked to White Rabbit candies, which Queensway distributed to California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington state.
In China, melamine-tainted milk products have recently sickened and killed babies.
