| ■ Melamine Found in 31 Chinese Milk Batches | 2008.10.06 |
| Twelve more Chinese dairy companies were named as violators after new tests found 31 batches of milk powder tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The contaminated products, ranging from baby formula to chocolate, have been blamed for four children's deaths, and 13,000 child hospitalizations. So far, 27 people have been arrested in connection with the scandal. The new batches tested were mostly milk powder products for adults, ranging from full fat milk powder to milk powder called high in calcium and zinc. Tests have also found melamine in 24 batches of liquid milk produced by three of China's best known dairy firms, AP said. The recent tests found that nine batches containing melamine were produced by Sanlu, the company at the center of the scandal. Sanlu is a state-owned joint venture with Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy cooperative. Meanwhile, in other developments:Hong Kong's food safety agency said it found melamine in a sample of Lotte Cream Cheese Cake manufactured by Japan's Lotte China Foods Co. Ltd., in mainland China. In Thailand, inspectors impounded 80 tons of Chinese milk powder. The importer denied any contamination. Australian food regulators recalled Lotte Koala Biscuits, a popular line of cookies, as a precaution, following reports of melamine contamination. |