| ■ European Union Bans Chinese Milk Products | 2008.09.29 |
| Baby food products that contain milk imported from China were banned Thursday by the European Union in response to the deaths of four Chinese infants who ingested locally made tainted formula. The European Commission also called for tighter controls on other foods imported from China, the Associated Press reported. In addition to the four deaths, Chinese formula tainted with the plastics chemical melamine has caused more than 54,000 Chinese babies to become sick. The chemical, which can lead to kidney stones and kidney failure, is considered particularly harmful to children. Melamine has been detected in products from 22 Chinese dairy firms, the AP reported. It's thought that suppliers used the chemical to mask the watering down of various milk products. The practice may now be affecting animals, the wire service reported, as a lion cub and two baby orangutans have developed kidney stones at a zoo near Shanghai. The World Health Organization and UNICEF issued a joint statement Thursday condemning baby-food makers that deliberately contaminate their products. |