2008, September 22

After several days of silence Chinese officials of the Health Ministry revealed that the number of infants affected by tainted baby milk has risen to 12,892 - including a child in Hong Kong. The milk products have caused serious kidney problems leading to hospitalization. To demonstrate that the government is taking this most recent health scandal very serious, Premier Wen Jiabao visited babies still in hospital and pledged serious punishment of those responsible in the dairy industry.

Apparently, not only baby milk powder is affected, but also other dairy products, such as liquid milk, yoghurt, icecream and candy. The dairy products were tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which has a high nitrogen content and is usually used in plastics and glue. It was added to artificially inflate the milk's protein content.
Some 22 companies, including the Chinese dairy giants Yili Industrial Group and Sanlu Group, are involved in the scandal.

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