By Sandun A Jayasekera
The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) was capable of conducting laboratory tests to the internationally accepted standards to determine DCD (Dicyandiamide) levels in imported milk foods in order to ensure consumers - children in particular - not to consume contaminated milk products, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika  Ranawaka said yesterday. Addressing the media at the ITI auditorium, Minister Ranawaka said certain media outlets had cast doubt unfairly on the efficacy and the competency of the ITI’s ability to successfully test the imported milk powder for DCD but the ITI was fully equipped with the technology and equipment to do the job to internationally accepted standard, in the past, at present and in future.  “I can assure you that the ITI has been further strengthened in its technological capacities to test not only for DCD but for any other contamination in water, soil, vegetables, fruits or any other food and drink and even drugs with the importation of LCMC (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) technology at a cost of Rs. 44 million which is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.
Minister Ranawaka said with the installation of the LCMC at the ITI which is the most modern technology available, the scientists at the ITI laboratories had the capacity to detect .05 particles of DCD in one kilogram of milk powder as opposed to detection of .5 particles in the past.  “You must note that detecting even .5 particles of DCD in one kilogram of milk powder is still much below the accepted safe level. Therefore, the ITI has right throughout been scientifically analyzed and detected milk powder with DCD imported from New Zealand and saved the people from drinking
contaminated milk.