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Sanitizer in milk sparks alert

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued its highest-level health hazard alert after learning that about 11,000 units of one-litre Sealtest 1 per cent chocolate milk, made by Natrel, was contaminated and distributed across Ontario.

The CFIA said the class-one alert was issued based on the information it received from Natrel.

"It is not something we do just as a precaution. Our health-assessment risk is based on the chemical that we have been provided as the chemical that may have been contaminating the milk," said Shashi Kulkarni, a spokesperson for the CFIA.

The agency issues such an alert only when the risk to consumers is adverse reaction or irreparable damage.

"If we have reason to advise the public that this is a precaution, then we exactly do that. This is not that. This is a warning," he said.

Late yesterday, however, Natrel issued a statement saying a product "believed to contain 99.5 per cent water and 0.5 per cent of a soap and vinegar-like cleanser" had contaminated the milk

The company said the contaminant was a combination of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid introduced into the milk by human error at Natrel's Don Mills plant.

The contaminant was a sanitizer regularly used to clean equipment, the company said.

Late Monday afternoon, a 29-year-old Toronto man was admitted to Humber River Regional Hospital after ingesting a swig of the clear, yellow-tinged liquid, police said. The man, who had been vomiting, was released that night.

The man bought the milk from White Corner Variety store in the Downsview area of Toronto. The store had received a shipment of five containers of the one-litre chocolate milk on Friday.

When the man returned to the store on Monday after drinking some of the chocolate milk and complained that it was contaminated, owner Japong (Charlie) Gu gave the customer back his money. Mr. Gu then removed the remaining containers from the shelf of his store, which is near Wilson Avenue and Ridge Road.

Police investigated and seized the three containers that had not been sold. Once it was clear that the products were not tampered with, police contacted Natrel and informed the company of the incident.

One of the vice-presidents of Natrel was quite surprised, police said, but confirmed later that evening the company had received other complaints on Monday.

At the time, the company official told police 320 units of the product could have been distributed across Ontario, said Sergeant Steve Hicks of 31 Division.

Police have located the other carton of milk purchased at White Corner Variety, but are concerned for other consumers who may be unaware of the contamination.

"I'd hate to see a child or somebody else get injured because of it. [Natrel] assured me that it was not extremely volatile, they may become nauseous but it wouldn't cause death, so it was a bit of a reassurance," Sgt. Hicks said.

The chocolate milk was distributed across the province, including to Foodland, which sells the product to other stores, police said.

Police continue to look for contaminated containers, but say the incident is not considered a criminal matter.

The CFIA has issued a recall of all one-litre Sealtest 1% chocolate milk with a UPC code 0 64420 00170 2. The expiry date appearing on the carton spout is Feb 7, followed by the number 1478 and time-stamped between 22:00 hours and 22:30 hours with the numbers 20B or 20A following.