Chinese candy maker denies RP gov't claims of formaldehyde tainting

SHANGHAI (AP) - A Chinese candy maker has denied Philippine claims that one of its products contains potentially cancer causing formaldehyde, the latest in a string of allegations against Chinese food.

Shanghai-based Guan Sheng Yuan Co. said in a statement posted on its Web site Wednesday that its "White Rabbit" brand of milk candy was among several Chinese products ordered removed from stores by the Philippine Bureau of Food and Drugs due to formaldehyde tainting.

The company said it immediately submitted samples to an internationally certified testing laboratory in Shanghai on hearing the news Sunday and had already received the results.

The speed and severity of the response underscored concerns that the deteriorating reputation of Chinese food exports could spread to some of the country's best known brands.

"Guan Sheng Yuan Co. makes this pledge to society: Absolutely at no point during the manufacturing of White Rabbit milk candy are preservatives added," the company said.

The statement also called the Philippines bureau "extremely irresponsible" for not confirming the authenticity of the products, saying White Rabbit's high name recognition had led to "rampant" faking of the product both within China and internationally.

"We regret that the Philippine side has not provided effective evidence, and reserve the right to bring legal action over the damage caused to the White Rabbit brand," the statement said.

Officials at the Philippine Bureau of Food and Drugs did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

Guan Sheng Yuan has been making White Rabbit candies for almost 50 years, building up a sizable export business in Southeast Asia and Chinese communities overseas.

Several countries have banned Chinese products from toothpaste to shrimp since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found in April that North American dogs and cats had been poisoned by tainted Chinese pet food ingredients. Since then, a growing number of Chinese products have been found to contain potentially toxic chemicals and other adulterants.

Formaldehyde is used in resin production and is well known as a preservative and embalming fluid.