Ethics Newsline®

Top Regulator Resigns as Tainted Milk Scandal Worsens in China

Sep 22nd, 2008 • Posted in: News

Made-in-China label tarnished again as press reports say milk was adulterated on purpose — watered down, with a toxic additive used to make it appear more normal

BEIJING
The most recent product-adulteration scandal to hit China widened considerably last week, with tests now showing that liquid milk also was contaminated by melamine, a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizers.

While the contamination originally was thought to be confined to powdered infant milk formula, Chinese officials have confirmed that the toxic chemical melamine was found in 10 percent of the liquid milk samples taken from three of the nation’s biggest dairy suppliers.

Roughly 54,000 infants have become ill with kidney ailments due to the contamination. Four children have died, another 100 remain critically ill, and nearly 13,000 people remain in hospital after consuming contaminated milk products, reports the Guardian.

As news of the wider contamination spread, China’s chief food-safety regulator, Li Changjiang, resigned, walking away from his post without giving an official reason as of Monday, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Chinese officials have ordered all dairy facilities to be inspected and promised free medical care to all babies sickened by the adulterated milk, reports official state media agency Xinhua.

The Agence France-Presse reports that some Chinese investigators and journalists suspect that the chemical may have been introduced into milk products to cut costs. One of the effects of melamine is to boost the apparent protein content and make watered-down milk appear normal.

Various Chinese press reports contend that the practice has been going on for years, and that China’s corrupt and chaotic food safety system was unable or unwilling to stop it.

Sources: Guardian, Sep. 22 — Wall Street Journal Sep. 22 — CNN, Sep. 22 — CNN, Sep. 21 — Voice of America, Sep. 19 — AFP, Sep. 19 — Xinhua, Sep. 19.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Sep. 8 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 25 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 11 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 4 — Related Newsline story, July 14.

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1. Ethics Newsline® » News » Chinese Premier Vows to Improve Ethics after Tainted Milk Scandal on September 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm:

   [...] more information, see: Related Newsline story, Sep. 22 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 15 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 8 [...]

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