New Zealand Food Safety Authority spokesman Geoff Allen said on Thursday morning that he expected the White Rabbit Creamy Candies to be off shelves within 24 hours.

'This product contains sufficiently high levels of melamine which may, in some individuals, cause health problems such as kidney stones,' deputy chief executive Sandra Daly said in a statement posted Wednesday on the agency's website. 'The levels we have found in these products are unacceptable.'

Meanwhile, Australian food regulators issued a statement late on Wednesday announcing they had formally requested that wholesalers and importers voluntarily withdraw the candies pending further testing for melamine, a chemical that has sickened thousands of Chinese children and touched off a new food scare after it began turning up in milk products.

People worried that they or their children may have eaten the sweets should seek medical advice, Ms Daly said.

'This is a serious concern,' she said. 'We cannot discount the likelihood of health risks resulting from the consumption of these sweets.'

The candies have also been pulled off the shelves by British supermarket chain Tesco.

Allen said the food watchdog is testing other products to ensure their safety.

'We are looking at a wide range of products ... primarily baby formulas as they pose the highest risk, and now we're moving through all the other .... products that may contain adulterated milk,' he told National Radio.

Tens of thousands of Chinese children have sought medical care and four infants have died because Chinese-made infant formula has been found to be contaminated by melamine, believed added to watered-down milk to make it appear higher in protein.

China's tainted milk scandal came to light after formula sold by up to 22 Chinese companies - including Sanlu Group, the Chinese partner of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra - was found to be contaminated with melamine. -- AP