-
-
Bust reveals 600 tonnes of toxic milk powder
Chinese authorities have arrested a man who made 600 tonnes of melamine-laced powder that was destined for the nation’s milk supply, in the biggest bust of its kind, state press reported on Friday.
Melamine has been at the centre of an enormous health scandal in China over the past month after it emerged the industrial chemical had been illegally put into watered-down milk to give dairy products the illusion of high protein levels.
Four babies have died of kidney failure and more than 53,000 others sickened after drinking tainted milk formulas, while contaminated Chinese dairy products have been discovered around the world.
Amid a huge reported crackdown by Chinese authorities, the official Xinhua news agency announced on Friday a dairy farmer had been found with the “biggest ever” amount of a protein powder laced with melamine.
The farmer, Zhang Yujun, had produced the 600 tonnes of protein powder in eastern China’s Shandong province between September last year and August, Xinhua reported.
Although he made the melamine powder in Shandong, Zhang’s farm was in Hebei province, one of China’s main dairy regions, which has been at the centre of the scandal.
Aside from arresting Zhang, police also caught eight people who bought the powder, Xinhua said. Xinhua said police had arrested 36 people in total in Hebei for their involvement in making, selling or adding melamine to fresh milk. Chinese authorities have arrested a man who made 600 tonnes of melamine-laced powder that was destined for the nation’s milk supply, i... more -
Tainted China water sickens 450
About 450 people have fallen ill in southern China after drinking contaminated water, the Xinhua state news agency says.
Four of the sick, in two villages in Guangxi province, have arsenic poisoning. Industrial waste from a metal company has been blamed.
Residents began to show symptoms of facial swelling, vomiting and blurred vision on 3 October.
Last month, tainted milk left more than 50,000 children sick.
Plant closed
Ge Xianmin, head of the Guangxi regional occupational disease prevention and control institute, told Xinhua: "The villagers were slightly poisoned. They can be cured in nine to 15 days with timely treatment."
Health officials said 23 children under the age of seven and 32 people aged over 60 had been kept in hospital for observation, while others were receiving outpatient treatment.
According to local government officials, torrential rain caused waste water containing arsenic from the Jinhai Metallurgy Chemical company to overflow and pollute nearby ponds and wells.
The company - a branch of the state-owned Liuzhou China Tin Company - was closed after the contamination was discovered.
Xinhua said the local government and the company had agreed to share the medical costs of the villagers.
Last month, four children died and more than 50,000 were sickened after they were fed on baby milk powder contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.
The scandal resulted in a recall of many Chinese milk products. About 450 people have fallen ill in southern China after drinking contaminated water, the Xinhua state news agency says. ... more -
Six Busted in China Milk Scandal
Six people have been arrested in connection with the tainted milk scandal in China, Reuters reports. The arrests were made in Hohhot, capital of China's main dairy producing region. Thousands of Chinese children have developed kidney problems from drinking milk formula contaminated by melamine. Four have died.
Last week authorities arrested 22 people in Hebei province suspected of being involved with producing melamine and selling it on to milk farms. The milk scandal triggered recalls and warnings among China's trading partners across Southeast Asia as melamine was discovered in infant formula, chocolate, cookies and other products. Melamine is used to artificially boost the protein content of milk and cheat on quality control tests. Six people have been arrested in connection with the tainted milk scandal in China, Reuters reports. The arrests were made in Hohhot, ... more -
Chinese-produced Cadbury chocolate tainted with melamine found in Hong Kong
Hong Kong said Sunday it found two Cadbury chocolate products contained considerably more of the industrial chemical melamine than the city's legal limit in a growing scandal over tainted food made in China.
Iran banned imports of all dairy products from China because of the contamination concerns, state radio reported.
In China, the food safety watchdog said no traces of the melamine were found in new tests of milk powder sold domestically, as officials sought to restore public trust in dairy products.
Baby formula containing melamine has been blamed for killing four infants and sickening more than 54,000 with kidney stones and other ailments in China.
Hong Kong's food safety agency said samples of two chocolate products made by British candy maker Cadbury at its Beijing factory contained considerably more melamine than the city's legal limit of 2.5 parts per million.
The two items were among 11 Chinese-made products that have already been recalled by Cadbury in parts of Asia and the Pacific.
Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety said Cadbury's Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate Bulk Pack contained 56 parts per million of melamine, while Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate contained 6.9 parts per million.
Calls to Cadbury offices in London and Asia Pacific went unanswered Sunday.
In Iran, the Health Ministry said the ban on imports of dairy products from China is in place until further notice, according to state radio. The ministry is assigning health workers to destroy suspect Chinese dairy products currently on the Iranian market.
China's government has been struggling to contain the damage from widespread contamination of milk supplies, castigating local officials for negligence while promising to keep stores supplied with clean milk. Hong Kong said Sunday it found two Cadbury chocolate products contained considerably more of the industrial chemical melamine than the... more -
Tainted milk company sought coverup
A Chinese company at the centre of the scare over tainted milk powder had asked for government help to cover up the extent of the problem, state media said on Wednesday in the newest development in the widening scandal. A Chinese company at the centre of the scare over tainted milk powder had asked for government help to cover up the extent of the prob... more
-
Candy with chemical in Chinese milk found in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- An industrial chemical blamed for sickening thousands of infants in China was found in candy in four Connecticut stores this week, a state official said Wednesday.
Days after contaminated White Rabbit Creamy Candy was found in California, Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. said tests found melamine in bags of the candy sold at two New Haven stores, a West Hartford market and an East Haven store.
"We're concerned, obviously, there may have been bags sold of these before we got to them," Farrell said.
Anyone who has the candy should destroy it, Farrell said.
The contamination has been blamed for the deaths of four children and kidney ailments among 54,000 others. More than 13,000 children have been hospitalized and 27 people arrested in connection with the tainting.
Melamine, which is high in nitrogen, is used to make plastics and fertilizers and experts say some amount of the chemical may be transferred from the environment during food processing. But in China's case, suppliers trying to boost output are believed to have diluted their milk, adding melamine because its nitrogen content can fool tests aimed at verifying protein content.
Melamine can cause kidney stones, leading to kidney failure. Infants are particularly vulnerable.
Melamine has been associated with contaminated infant formula and other Chinese products containing milk protein.
On Wednesday, the Chinese government identified 15 more Chinese dairy companies as producing milk products contaminated with melamine, bringing the total to 20 companies. At least 100 batches of milk powder have been found to contain the chemical, according to data on the food safety administration's Web site.
Last week, California health officials announced it discovered traces of melamine in White Rabbit candy it tested. Queensway Foods Company Inc. of California distributed the candy and says it is recalling it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with state and local governments to check for and test products that could possibly be contaminated with melamine. Last Friday, the FDA warned consumers not to consume White Rabbit Candy and Mr. Brown coffee products because of possible melamine contamination. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- An industrial chemical blamed for sickening thousands of infants in China was found in candy in four Connectic... more -
Unexpected apology from China for sitting on powdered milk report during Olympics
In a highly unusual move, a Chinese official has issued an apology for sitting on a report about melamime-tainted milk that was published during the Olympics. This follows the revelation of numerous cover-ups found within the companies involved over the past year. [see link for more info] In a highly unusual move, a Chinese official has issued an apology for sitting on a report about melamime-tainted milk that was publis... more
-
Milk Crisis Latest: biscuits and tea also hit
An alarmingly increasing number of international brands are getting embroiled in the tainted milk scandal, the latest being Ritz and Lipton. The Ritz Cracker sandwiches with cheese and Lipton's 3 in 1 Milk Tea Powder (ugh..) and Milk Green Tea have been recalled in various places following the discovery of melamime in the milk-based ingredients of the products. Just shows, these days, something goes wrong in factories in China, and it could affect products across the rest of the globe. Wonder where it'll all end... An alarmingly increasing number of international brands are getting embroiled in the tainted milk scandal, the latest being Ritz and L... more
-
Mama's Milk Ice Cream Cone, Anyone?
Mooove over, Holsteins. PETA wants world-famous Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to tap nursing moms, rather than cows, for the milk used in its ice cream.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the ice cream maker to begin using breast milk in its products instead of cow's milk, saying it would reduce the suffering of cows and calves and give ice cream lovers a healthier product.
The idea got a cool reception Thursday from Ben & Jerry's officials, the company's customers and even La Leche League International, the world's oldest breast-feeding support organization, which promotes the practice — for babies, anyway.
PETA wrote a letter to company founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday, telling them cow's milk is hazardous and that milking them is cruel.
"If Ben and Jerry's replaced the cow's milk in its ice cream with breast milk, your customers — and cows — would reap the benefits," wrote Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of the animal rights advocacy group. She said dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies and obesity.
Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.
"We're aware this idea is somewhat absurd, and that putting it into practice is a stretch. At the time same, it's pretty absurd for us to be drinking the milk of cows," she said.
It takes about 12 pounds — or 1 1/2 gallons of milk — to make a gallon of ice cream. Ben & Jerry's, which gets its milk exclusively from Vermont cows, won't say how much milk it uses or how much ice cream it sells.
As a standardized product under federal regulations, ice cream must be made with milk from healthy cows. Ice cream made from goat's milk, for example, would have to be labeled as such.
Presumably, so would mother's milk ice cream. Mooove over, Holsteins. PETA wants world-famous Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to tap nursing moms, rather than cows, for t... more -
Cadbury recalls 11 types of chocolate
HONG KONG, China (AP) -- British chocolate maker Cadbury on Monday became the latest foreign company to be hit by China's tainted milk scandal, ordering a recall of its Chinese-made products after saying tests "cast doubt" on their safety.
A researcher in Wuhan last week checks for melamine in milk samples collected from stores.
Two U.S. food makers were meanwhile investigating Indonesian claims that high traces of the industrial chemical melamine had been found in Chinese-made Oreos, M&Ms and Snickers, but stressed the same goods had tested negative in other Asian countries.
They said they were looking into all possibilities, including counterfeiting.
The milk scandal erupted earlier this month when China's public learned that melamine, which is used to make plastics and fertilizer, had been found in milk powder and was linked to kidney stones in children. Contamination has since turned up in liquid milk, yogurt and other products made with milk.
Four deaths have been blamed on the bad milk and some 54,000 children have developed kidney stones or other illnesses after drinking tainted baby formula.
Countries across Asia have removed items from shelves or banned them outright.
Myanmar added its name to the list on Monday, saying dairy items from China would be barred from entering its military-ruled country. The Philippines warned exporters they would be locked out of its market if they did not fully disclose the origins of their products. Watch how far the scandal has spread »
"Of course it's always good to have evidence rather than just speculate, but we will have to shift the burden of proof to them because our duty is to protect public health," Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in laying out the new regulations.
Cadbury, the British candy maker, said in a statement issued by its Singapore office Monday that tests had "cast doubt on the integrity of a range of our products manufactured in China."
It was not immediately clear whether they revealed melamine, but Cadbury said it had recalled 11 chocolate products made at its factory in Beijing which are distributed in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia.
Hong Kong's government ordered that the chocolates be immediately removed from shelves.
Don't Miss
Japan recalls sweets in melamine scandal
China's tainted milk fallout widens
China's tainted milk scare spreads globally
China quality chief quits over milk scandal
U.S. companies Kraft Foods Inc. and Mars Inc. said they would adhere to a recall order of Chinese-made Oreo wafers, M&Ms and Snickers in Indonesia, but said they wanted to conduct their own tests with outside experts.
So far only a local agency has checked the products for melamine, but the levels found were considered very high.
"We have asked our trade partners and retailers to suspend the sales of our products in accordance to the agency's order," Mars Indonesia spokesman Bondan Ardi said.
Hong Kong supermarket chain PARKnSHOP also pulled its Chinese-made Oreo, M&M and Snickers products as a precaution, spokeswoman Pinky Chan said. HONG KONG, China (AP) -- British chocolate maker Cadbury on Monday became the latest foreign company to be hit by China's tainted... more -
Baby orangutans and lion also sick from Chinese milk
The animals, at at Hangzhou Zoo near Shanghai, developed kidney stones after being fed milk powder tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.
Chinese media report that the animals had been fed on milk powder made by Sanlu Group for more than a year.
Sanlu Group is at the heart of the milk crisis which has seen four Chinese babies die and another 53,000 fall ill.
Concerned keepers sent the animals for a check up after hearing about the milk contamination and have now stopped feeding with Sanlu milk.
The orang-utans and the lion are the only animals to have developed kidney stones and are being treated for the condition.
Officials at the Beijing Zoo and zoos in the other major cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xian said they had no cases of animals sickened from milk powder, the Associated Press reported. The animals, at at Hangzhou Zoo near Shanghai, developed kidney stones after being fed milk powder tainted with the industrial chemica... more -
The Topic of the Week 9/26/08
picture: Flickr photo- Cherry ice-cream http://www.flickr.com/photos/elena777/124359368/
As a member of the Online Community Team, I spend more time than you can ever imagine on Current, reading through items, comments and going through topics. There’s always something new being added to the Politics topic or the Sex and Relationships, but there was one topic I came across that had few stories and was rarely added to—milk.
Milk. A fairly random and sparsely populated topic on Current, and for obvious reasons- it’s milk. Milk in itself is not that newsworthy and probably not something that many people search for on the site. That is, until recently. In the last two weeks with China’s scandal of melamine-tainted milk and infant formula as well as PETA asking Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream to use human milk instead of cow’s, milk has, surprisingly, become a highly discussed on Current.com, at least for the time being.
Of all the possible stories about milk, these were not what I would have imagined showing up on the Milk topic. Who would have thought PETA would ask any company to use human milk? And for that reason, this item has generated a lot of entertaining discussion, ranging from people’s disgust at the idea of using human milk, to arguments over whether human milk could even make ice cream.
Some of the best things about these unique and sometimes bizarre stories are the ones emerging as a result of these events. For example, a mother in Chegdu posted an ad to breastfeed another child as a result of the melamine-tainted formula. I could make some joke about milk money, but I’ll refrain. However, I’m going to go ahead and guess that posting an ad for breastfeeding just isn’t that common, so while melamine-tainted milk and infant formula is an awful thing, peoples’ reactions to it are very interesting.
In any case, I’ve enjoyed these unique additions to the Milk topic and the interesting discussions as a result. Check them out, add to the discussion if you’re so inclined, and if you come across a story that’s related to these milky events or is lactosely-inclined (yes, I made that word up), tag it!
Milky Stories:
http://current.com/items/89334976_peta_urges_ben_jerry_...
http://current.com/items/89327119_entrepreneurial_cheng...
http://current.com/items/89336475_tainted_milk_scandal_...
http://current.com/items/89321417_milk_from_china_isn_t... picture: Flickr photo- Cherry ice-cream http://www.flickr.com/photos/elena777/124359368/ ... more -
Two gorillas suspected of Sanlu milk powder poisoning
Two gorillas from Wildlife World in eastern Zhejiang province, China, have been diagnosed with crystallisation in their urine, which could lead to kidney stones. It is thought likely that the condition has come about as a result of the gorrilas having been fed with Sanlu milk powder.
Now gorillas are affected too.. sounds like this Sanlu story is gonna run and run. Two gorillas from Wildlife World in eastern Zhejiang province, China, have been diagnosed with crystallisation in their urine, which c... more -
This is Why PETA Sucks
Simply because they want female humans to provide the milk for Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Are you kidding me?
From the article
"If Ben and Jerry's replaced the cow's milk in its ice cream with breast milk, your customers — and cows — would reap the benefits," wrote Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of the animal rights advocacy group. She said dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies and obesity.
Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.
"We're aware this idea is somewhat absurd, and that putting it into practice is a stretch. At the time same, it's pretty absurd for us to be drinking the milk of cows," she said.
............
To Ben & Jerry's, the idea is udderly ridiculous.
"We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child," spokesman Sean Greenwood said in an e-mail. He didn't respond to requests for an interview. Simply because they want female humans to provide the milk for Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Are you kidding me? ... more -
Tainted milk scandal revives China's 'wet nurses'
A scandal over tainted infant formula and milk sweeping across China has revived business opportunities for a once-condemned practice: the hiring of wet nurses.
Ads from nursing mothers who want to earn money feeding other infants have popped up on Web sites, and urban agencies that offer household help say inquiries about wet nurses have soared from new mothers worried about contaminated infant formula.
Just a few decades ago, Mao Zedong denounced the practice of paying for wet nurses as decadent. And for decades after modern China's founding in 1949, nearly all women breastfed because they were too poor to buy infant formula.
But as China has grown more prosperous, many urban women have shunned breastfeeding for fear it would hurt their figures, or because they were seduced by rampant advertising that infant formula is nutritious, or even because grandparents of new infants clamor to take part in feeding rituals.
In the two weeks since a scandal erupted over adulterated infant formula and milk, tens of thousands of children have sought medical care, nearly 13,000 have been hospitalized and four infants have died.
Zhan Liying, a 28-year-old mother who gave birth in early August, sat in a household employment agency Wednesday waiting for clients who might hire her to breastfeed their infant.
"With the infant formula issue, there is demand for wet nurses," Zhan said. "It's a way to make money."
Only prosperous Chinese families can afford it, though. Wet nurses often live with employers and charge anywhere from $1,100 to $2,700 a month.
Chinese law gives working mothers four to six months of maternity leave, although some career-oriented women prefer not to take such a leave.
Some Chinese mothers believe they are unable to produce enough milk to feed their children. Others worry that breastfeeding will cause sagging.
Wet nurses were a staple of the imperial era. China's last emperor, Pu Yi, is known to have suckled the breast of his wet nurse into his teens.
On a wet nurse user forum on QQ, China's leading online social network, a man going by the nickname "blue forever," said he would block his wife from offering the service.
"Who likes other people's babies to suckle on the breasts of one's own wife?" he wrote. A scandal over tainted infant formula and milk sweeping across China has revived business opportunities for a once-condemned practice:... more -
PETA urges Ben & Jerry's to use human milk
VERMONT -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., urging them to replace cow's milk they use in their ice cream products with human breast milk, according to a statement recently released by a PETA spokeswoman.
"PETA's request comes in the wake of news reports that a Swiss restaurant owner will begin purchasing breast milk from nursing mothers and substituting breast milk for 75 percent of the cow's milk in the food he serves," the statement says.
PETA officials say a move to human breast milk would lessen the suffering of dairy cows and their babies on factory farms and benefit human health.
"The fact that human adults consume huge quantities of dairy products made from milk that was meant for a baby cow just doesn't make sense," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Everyone knows that 'the breast is best,' so Ben & Jerry's could do consumers and cows a big favor by making the switch to breast milk."
In a statement Ben and Jerry's said, "We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child."
Read PETA's letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield at link. VERMONT -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of Ben & Jerry&... more -
Tesco recalls Chinese sweets containing melamine
The chemical at the centre of the baby milk scandal in China has been found in sweets sold at some Tesco stores.
Tesco has withdrawn a range of children's sweets from UK stores over fears they contain melamine, the chemical responsible for the contaminated baby milk scandal in China.
The supermarket chain recalled White Rabbit Creamy Candies because of reports about the presence of melamine, the chemical that has contaminated formula milk in China, killing four babies and leaving about 53,000 children ill.
Food testers in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore found melamine in the sweets.
White Rabbit candies are stocked in UK branches of Tesco that sell ethnic foods from around the world. The supermarket said it had withdrawn the sweets on the advice of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and that nobody was known to have fallen ill after eating them.
A Tesco spokesman said: "As a precautionary measure, we have withdrawn White Rabbit Candies from the very small number of UK stores that sell them as part of our ethnic range."
The FSA said it had asked the industry to check the source of this product and that it would "take any action if necessary".
Melamine is an industrial chemical used in plastics. If consumed it can cause stomach pain and kidney stones. In the China scare it was added to diluted children's milk to make it appear higher in protein. The chemical at the centre of the baby milk scandal in China has been found in sweets sold at some Tesco stores. ... more -
Why You Might Want to Be a Little Worried About China’s Bad Milk
CDT reports on a reason we in the West might want to be a little worried about the milk crisis in China, revealing that the asorbic acid in many vitamin C supplements we can buy off the shelf here are made in China. It doesn't, however, seem to draw a clear link with the melamine-tainted milk, so sounds more like an article using the milk scandal to talk about the pitfalls of some unscrupulous Chinese exports in general. Worry with caution. CDT reports on a reason we in the West might want to be a little worried about the milk crisis in China, revealing that the asorbic ac... more
-
China dairy accused of cover-up
A dairy at the centre of China's growing scandal over contaminated milk was first made aware of problems nine months before it announced a recall of its products, Chinese state media has reported.
According to broadcaster CCTV, managers of the Sanlu Group dairy company first received complaints as early as December 2007 linking its infant formula to illnesses in babies.
It was not until June, however, that tests showed the milk was tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which causes kidney stones and can lead to kidney failure.
In August, New Zealand-based dairy giant Fonterra, a major investor in Sanlu, was made aware of the problem and urged an immediate recall.
Sanlu did not go public until September 11.
Read full story at link above for more details. A dairy at the centre of China's growing scandal over contaminated milk was first made aware of problems nine months before it an... more -
China toxic milk sickens 53,000 as scare spreads
BEIJING (AFP) — China's tainted milk scandal spiralled into uncharted territory Monday with the government announcing that up to 53,000 children had been sickened and its top product-quality inspector sacked.
In a dramatic update of previous figures, the health ministry said a total of 52,857 children were taken to hospital after drinking milk thought to have been contaminated by the industrial chemical melamine.
Most had "basically recovered" after developing kidney stones, the main symptom of drinking the tainted milk, but 12,892 of them remained in hospital, a health ministry official told AFP.
Meanwhile, the head of China's product-quality agency, Li Changjiang, stepped down under pressure Monday, becoming the highest-level leader to be embroiled in the scandal that has left China's dairy industry reeling.
Li had overseen the ministry-level product-quality agency during a wave of scandals that have tarnished China's manufacturing reputation.
Also sacked was Wu Xianguo, the top official of Shijiazhuang city, where tainted milk powder first surfaced in the Sanlu brand headquartered in the city, the Xinhua news agency said.
Eighteen people have been arrested, including the head of the Sanlu Group, while dozens have been detained for questioning, state media have said.
More than 80 percent of affected children are aged under two, the Chinese health ministry said.
The melamine scandal came to light two weeks ago in state-controlled media, but some press reports say the scam had been going on for years.
Sanlu began to receive consumer complaints beginning in 2007, according to official investigations released on Monday, Xinhua reported.
Despite a test in June determining that its products were contaminated with melamine, normally used in making plastics, the firm withheld the information from local government until August 2, Xinhua added.
Up to four infants have died in the scandal, which prompted countries to ban or limit Chinese dairy imports.
Joining a clutch of other countries, Taiwan said it was banning all Chinese milk products with immediate notice, as well as non-dairy products after melamine was found in an imported Chinese non-dairy creamer.
"There is no timeframe for the ban," said Wang Chih-chao, an official with the Department of Health. BEIJING (AFP) — China's tainted milk scandal spiralled into uncharted territory Monday with the government announcing that up to ... more
-
related topics
Milk
Contributors (346)
Milk
