Two babies with kidney stones receive
medical treatment at a military hospital in Lanzhou, capital of northwest
China's Gansu Province, Sept. 11, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- A preliminary
investigation confirmed the contaminated Sanlu baby milk powder as the cause of
kidney stones in infants after a first-phase probe by experts, China's Ministry
of Health said here on Friday.
An investigation team jointly organized by
departments including the health, public security, agriculture ministries and
quality watchdog examined the urine and kidney stones of the infant patients and
found the substance melamine therein.
The investigation team, which is in Shijiazhuang,
Hebei Province, where dairy producer Sanlu Group is based, is now coordinating
with the local government to investigate the incident.
"Those responsible for the contaminated milk will
face severe punishment," said an official with the team.
The team arrived in Hebei on Friday. After listening
to the local government's report on its handling of the incident, they collected
samples and documents from the Sanlu Group and the local quality testing agency.
They also visited the affected babies in local hospitals and gave advice on the
treatment.
Sanlu, one of China's leading dairy producers, found
during an internal company investigation in August its powdered milk products
were contaminated with melamine, according to the team's investigation.
Parents of the babies with kidney stones tell the reporter about their kids' drinking state at a military hospital in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 11, 2008. So far this year, Gansu Provincial Health Department has seen 59 kidney stone cases in infants, and at least one baby died as a result of kidney stones. Most of them live in rural areas of the province. There were no such cases in 2006 or 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The statement didn't say why the company didn't
release the findings until news reports exposed dozens of babies became sick
with kidney stones after consuming the Sanlu brand of baby milk powder for a
prolonged period.
Health experts said melamine is a chemical raw
material. Ingestion can lead to stone formation in the urinary tract.
A thermosetting plastic, melamine has an appearance
similar to milk powder. It is widely used in manufacturing fabric, glue,
housewares and flame retardants.
"The substance gives the appearance of a high
nitrogen level, which is an index to measure the protein content in food," a
health expert told Xinhua. He declined to be named.
One baby in the northwest Gansu province died from
the stones. At least 59 cases had been reported in Gansu and other provinces.
Sanlu had sealed off 2,176 tons of contaminated milk
powder and recalled 8,210 tonnes from the market. There were still 700 tonnes in
circulation. All the contaminated formula was produced before Aug. 6.
Supermarkets in some provinces had started to pull
the milk powder off shelves.
The Health Ministry said on Friday it had launched a
nationwide investigation into the contaminated milk formula. All local health
agencies were to report cases of infants with kidney stones immediately. It also
issued a treatment plan on its website (www.moh.gov.cn) to help hospitals deal
with sick babies.
BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Police have questioned
78 people suspected of being involved in a baby milk powder contamination
scandal, said Shijiazhuang Vice Mayor Zhao Xinchao on Friday.
The city is where the formula was being manufactured
by Sanlu Group. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Sanlu Group, a leading
Chinese dairy producer, said it had found in its self-check that some of its
baby milk powder products were contaminated by tripolycyanamide. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of babies sick in
a milk powder scandal in China continues to grow as at least seven provinces are
now reporting cases of kidney stones in infants.
National food and health authorities are trying to find
out if all the babies drank the same brand of milk powder. Samples had been sent
to a state-run lab for analysis. Full story
