BEIJING, Sept. 12, 2008
China Recalls Tainted Infant Formula
Officials Vow "Serious Punishment"; U.S. Warns Against Buying Chinese-Made Formula
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Play CBS Video Video Baby Formula Recall In China One death has been reported from a recalled baby formula in China tainted with a chemical used to make plastic, Celia Hatton reports.
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Four babies suffering from kidney stones are held by relatives at a hospital in Lanzhou, northwest Chinas Gansu province, September 8, 2008. (Imaginechina via AP Images)
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Interactive Focus On China Explore the history, people and economy of China, the world’s most populous nation.
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U.S. authorities warned American consumers to avoid all Chinese infant formula, though a New Zealand company that owns a stake in the Chinese producer said it believed none of the powder was exported from China.
Sanlu Group Co., China's biggest milk powder producer, ordered the recall after more than 50 babies suffered kidney stones and one died, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said Sanlu's tests found it was tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics.
"Those responsible will face serious punishment," said Health Ministry spokesman Mao Qunan, quoted by Xinhua.
People who answered the phone at Sanlu said managers were not available to comment.
China has suffered a string of safety incidents over tainted toothpaste, toys, seafood and other products that caused deaths or injuries. The incidents damaged foreign confidence in the safety of Chinese goods and prompted a shake-up of the country's regulatory system in an effort to reassure consumers.
The Health Ministry launched a nationwide investigation, ordering local officials to report all possible cases and "is urgently organizing experts to conduct research and treatment," a ministry statement said.
Fonterra Co-operative Group, a New Zealand dairy farmers' group that owns 43 percent of Sanlu, said it was advised the company had a "quality issue in its products as a result of receiving defective milk in China."
"We understand that the product involved is only sold in China," Fonterra said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.
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The milk powder is sold in China under the name Sanlu Bei Bei Infant Powder.We understand that the product involved is only sold in China.
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Sanlu stakeholderAccording to Xinhua, Sanlu said the contaminated powder was produced before Aug. 6.
Melamine is the chemical involved in a massive pet food recall last year. It is not supposed to be added to food, but suppliers in China sometimes mix it in to make food appear to be high in protein. Melamine is nitrogen rich, and standard tests for protein in bulk food ingredients measure levels of nitrogen.
In Washington, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to avoid infant formula from China. Authorities said Chinese formula is not approved for importation into the United States but might be sold at ethnic grocery stores.
"We're concerned that there may be some infant formula that may have gotten into the United States illegally and may be on the ethnic market," said Janice Oliver, deputy director of the FDA's food safety program.
Sanlu, based in Shijiazhuang southwest of Beijing, has 18 percent of China's market for milk powder, according to government data. The company says it produces 6,800 tons of milk a day.
Sanlu became the dairy supplier to China's space program in June and might provide milk for astronauts on the country's upcoming third manned space flight.
In 2004, more than 200 Chinese infants suffered malnutrition and at least 12 died after being fed phony formula that contained no nutrients. Some 40 companies were found to be making phony formula and 47 people were arrested.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
- wow these righties sound like nazi supermen! when will they get off this "every man for themselves.....government programs are for commies" ***?
- Reply to this comment
- When will the world WAKE UP and realize that China is doing this intentionally!
And with the Bush administration gutting the FDA and every department that protects Americans so that he can pay for his Illegal WAR - what do you expect!
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Posted by RushLiberal
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We dont need your lousy government social programs like the FDA and the SEC. Go away and take your socialism with you. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by u-r-right:
I agree with you 100%!!! Seems like almost everything we buy from them gets recalled for something. Lead based paint? Dont they know that has been banned over here for a long time now!! ***!!!! And now its tainted baby formula. Are they after our children?? - Reply to this comment
- When will the world WAKE UP and realize that China is doing this intentionally!
And with the Bush administration gutting the FDA and every department that protects Americans so that he can pay for his Illegal WAR - what do you expect! - Reply to this comment
- Breast milk is free.. : )
- Reply to this comment
- Solution breast feed....
- Reply to this comment
- IT''''S CHEAPER! Cheaper is ALWAYS better. RIGHT????
QUICK! Run to Wal-Mart and buy some more "Made in China" stuff before it gets recalled, too.
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Posted by txgrouch2006
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Ya cheaper is always better. You sound like a union member who lost their job to the global marketplace. Boohoo. - Reply to this comment
- In Washington, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to avoid infant formula from China. Authorities said Chinese formula is not approved for importation into the United States but might be sold at ethnic grocery stores.
The problem is that on a lot of food labels it will say something like " distributed by so and so company" and it doesn''t say what country the food came from. - Reply to this comment
- IT''''S CHEAPER! Cheaper is ALWAYS better. RIGHT????
Posted by txgrouch2006 at 07:00 AM : Sep 12, 2008
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At least for the American Big Business plan. - Reply to this comment
- I guess somebody over there figured they had too many females being born(?)
Item after poisonous item has been detected from that country and yet their good are still flooding into our ports.
BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE GOOD OLE USA! - Reply to this comment
- IT''S CHEAPER! Cheaper is ALWAYS better. RIGHT????
QUICK! Run to Wal-Mart and buy some more "Made in China" stuff before it gets recalled, too. - Reply to this comment
