Melamine scandal resurfaces
China - Three Chinese companies have been found selling dairy products laced with melamine, more than a year after hundreds of thousands of children fell sick in a huge milk scandal.
In the latest reported case, authorities in the southwestern province of Guizhou found that the produces, said to include "popsicles", contained levels of melamine above allowable limits, the China Daily said.
Melamine is used to make dairy products appear higher in protein, but an excessive amount can cause kidney stones and kidney failure. The scandal first surfaced in September 2008, causing the death of six babies and sickened over 300,000 others. The issue caused a major uproar globally, highlighted China's need to clean up its food supply chain.
The three firms were Zibo Lusaier Dairy Company in eastern China's Shandong province, Tieling Wuzhou Food Company in northeastern Liaoning province and the Laoting Kaida Refrigeration Plant in northern Hebei province.
China media reports said the food companies involved had blamed the problem on milk powder bought from suppliers, while one official said the products may have contained tainted milk that was recalled after the scandal but had found its way back on to the market.
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