More tainted milk products found in China
-----------------------------------------
Melamine-laced milk products have been found [again] on sale in China,
state media said on Monday [25 Jan 2010], more than a year after the
chemical was blamed for 6 deaths in a huge scandal over contaminated
dairy goods.
Authorities in the southwestern province of Guizhou found that
products made by 3 food companies contained illegally high levels of
the toxic substance, the China Daily said.
It quoted a former dairy industry official as saying it was likely
more tainted goods remained in supermarkets despite a major recall
after the 2008 scandal, which highlighted China's persistent product
safety problems.
The suspect products in Guizhou have been pulled from stores, the
China Daily said, adding that the firms involved blamed milk powder
bought from suppliers.
The report illustrated the apparent continued threat from tainted
dairy goods long after the 2008 scandal when it was revealed that the
industrial chemical -- which can, in large quantities, cause kidney
failure and death -- was being abused by food producers.
At that time, melamine was found to have been added to milk to give
the appearance of a higher protein content and was blamed for killing
6 infants and making nearly 300 000 others sick, according to official
figures.
The scare led to foodstuffs containing dairy products being taken off
shelves around the world. A total of 21 people were reportedly
convicted of wrongdoing, with 2 executed and others sentenced to jail
terms. But other cases have since surfaced.
Earlier this month [January 2010], the state press revealed that
Shanghai Panda Dairy had been shut down again over melamine-tainted
milk products [see ProMED ref. below]. The company had been
blacklisted and closed over the 2008 scandal but was allowed to
reopen. 3 Chinese executives with the company could face trial as
early as next month [February 2010] on charges of making and selling
hazardous foods, a spokesman in the Shanghai prosecutors' office has
said.
The China Daily said the products found in Guizhou were made in March
and April of 2009, months after the government declared an all-clear.
The 3 companies involved, in separate locations across north and east
China, were Zibo Lusaier Dairy Company, Tieling Wuzhou Food Company,
and the Laoting Kaida Refrigeration Plant, it said.
It said the goods included "popsicles" [see image in link at end]
produced by 2 of the companies but gave no other specifics.
Staff at the Guizhou provincial health department denied the report
when contacted by AFP. Ling Hu, a spokeswoman with the Guizhou
provincial government, said officials there were looking into the
allegations but declined further comment. AFP could not immediately
reach officials at the 3 companies.
The China Daily quoted Wang Dingmian, former chairman of the Guangdong
Provincial Dairy Association in southern China, as suggesting
"leftover" tainted dairy goods were likely still circulating despite
the earlier recall.
"The problems were not totally solved. From this point, it's
inevitable to see new problems popping out," he said.
Date: Mon 25 Jan 2010
Source: Bangkok Post, Agence France-Presse (AFP) report [edited]
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/heal...in-china-shops 
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