Warden Message

Embassy of the United States of America
Hanoi, Vietnam
7 Lang Ha
Dong Da
Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 850-5000
Email: ACSHanoi@State.gov

Website: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov
October 6, 2008

Warden Message

The Chinese government recently announced that the industrial contaminant melamine has been discovered in many brands of infant formula produced in China. Following these reports, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory warning to consumers that any formula produced in China may contain melamine and should not be used. The FDA has also issued recalls for products on sale in the United States due to possible melamine contamination. The list can be found at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html The Vietnamese government has confirmed seizures of powdered milk manufactured in China after samples tested positive for melamine.

Melamine has since been found in other dairy products in China as well, and the Chinese authorities have dispatched inspection teams around the country to conduct a comprehensive check of milk products for contamination. Because of the uncertainties related to dairy products in China, the Embassy is not in a position to monitor or verify the quality of any dairy product produced in China.

As a result of these warnings, the Embassy Medical Unit has given the following advice to Embassy employees: "If you are currently using an infant formula that was manufactured in China and your infant demonstrates symptoms of irritability with an incessant painful cry with decreased, concentrated urine flow with blood immediately seek medical attention. If your child demonstrates no symptoms, screening with blood tests is not recommended at this time."

Additional information can be found at:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/05/0129.xml
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01889.html
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/Melamine.pdf
Americans living or traveling in Vietnam are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Vietnam. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi is located at 170 Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, telephone: (84-4) 850-5000; after hours emergency telephone number: (84-4) 850-5000; fax: (84-4) 850-5010. The web site for the U.S. Embassy Hanoi is http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/.

The U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is located at 4 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, telephone: (84-8) 822-9433; fax: (84-8) 822-9434. The web site for the U.S. Consulate General is http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/.