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| Chinese baby milk toll escalates | Chinese baby milk toll escalates |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 6,200 babies have fallen ill after drinking formula milk made from contaminated powder, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu has said. | More than 6,200 babies have fallen ill after drinking formula milk made from contaminated powder, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu has said. |
| The figure is five times higher than previously announced. | The figure is five times higher than previously announced. |
| Mr Chen said a third baby had now died - with the latest fatality occurring in the Zhejiang province of eastern China. | Mr Chen said a third baby had now died - with the latest fatality occurring in the Zhejiang province of eastern China. |
| Twenty-two brands of powder have been found to contain the toxic industrial chemical melamine, apparently added to make it appear higher in protein. | Twenty-two brands of powder have been found to contain the toxic industrial chemical melamine, apparently added to make it appear higher in protein. |
| Mr Chen said a total of 6,244 infants were now sick, and that the number of those diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158. | Mr Chen said a total of 6,244 infants were now sick, and that the number of those diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158. |
| He said free medical care would be provided to all affected infants. | He said free medical care would be provided to all affected infants. |
| Banned substance | Banned substance |
| The government has labelled the poisonings a "level one" food safety incident and formed an emergency team to grapple with the fallout. | The government has labelled the poisonings a "level one" food safety incident and formed an emergency team to grapple with the fallout. |
| Tests have so far revealed that 69 batches of formula made by 22 companies were contaminated with the banned substance, officials say. | Tests have so far revealed that 69 batches of formula made by 22 companies were contaminated with the banned substance, officials say. |
| Two of the brands are exported to Bangladesh, Yemen, Gabon, Burundi and Burma - although it is not clear if contaminated batches are involved. | Two of the brands are exported to Bangladesh, Yemen, Gabon, Burundi and Burma - although it is not clear if contaminated batches are involved. |
| Companies caught up in the scandal include the giant milk company Mengniu Dairy. | Companies caught up in the scandal include the giant milk company Mengniu Dairy. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| People queue to return milk powder as infants are treated in hospital | People queue to return milk powder as infants are treated in hospital |
| It says it is recalling three batches of formula made in January, after government tests found melamine - normally used in plastics - in its product. | It says it is recalling three batches of formula made in January, after government tests found melamine - normally used in plastics - in its product. |
| The dairy has also suspended trading of its shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange. | The dairy has also suspended trading of its shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange. |
| The company at the heart of the scandal, the Sanlu Group, has fired its chairwoman and its general manager, state-run news agency Xinhua said. | The company at the heart of the scandal, the Sanlu Group, has fired its chairwoman and its general manager, state-run news agency Xinhua said. |
| Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu said all the seriously ill children had become ill after drinking Sanlu powered milk. | |
| Correspondents say that melamine appears to have been added to fresh milk at milk collection stations, before being passed on to Sanlu. | |
| Xinhua also reported that four officials linked to agriculture and quality control in Hebei province, where the Sanlu group is based, had been sacked. | |
| Since the crisis emerged, four people have been arrested, with more expected. Twenty-two others are being questioned. | Since the crisis emerged, four people have been arrested, with more expected. Twenty-two others are being questioned. |
| Parent's anger over milk scandal | Parent's anger over milk scandal |
| Sanlu made the information about the contamination of its products public last week after its New Zealand stakeholder, Fonterra - a global supplier of dairy ingredients - informed the New Zealand government, which then told the Chinese government. | Sanlu made the information about the contamination of its products public last week after its New Zealand stakeholder, Fonterra - a global supplier of dairy ingredients - informed the New Zealand government, which then told the Chinese government. |
| Li Changjiang, head of China's quality control watchdog, said that two companies - Yashili and Suncare - exported milk powder and they were recalling their products. | Li Changjiang, head of China's quality control watchdog, said that two companies - Yashili and Suncare - exported milk powder and they were recalling their products. |
| He said that melamine had also been found in a yogurt ice-bar made by Yili, one of China's biggest dairy producers, and sold in Hong Kong. | He said that melamine had also been found in a yogurt ice-bar made by Yili, one of China's biggest dairy producers, and sold in Hong Kong. |
| The brand has now been recalled by the Hong Kong supermarket chain Wellcome. | The brand has now been recalled by the Hong Kong supermarket chain Wellcome. |
| Mr Li, head of the state quality supervision body AQSIQ, said China would adjust its baby formula standards to allow tests for poisonous substances such as melamine. | Mr Li, head of the state quality supervision body AQSIQ, said China would adjust its baby formula standards to allow tests for poisonous substances such as melamine. |
| He said tests for the substance had not been made before, because it was banned from food products. | He said tests for the substance had not been made before, because it was banned from food products. |
| Confidence undermined | Confidence undermined |
| The BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing says China is keen to try to reassure parents that it is in control of what is happening. | The BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing says China is keen to try to reassure parents that it is in control of what is happening. |
| This scandal has undermined confidence in food safety in China and many parents are worried about what they will feed their babies, he adds. | This scandal has undermined confidence in food safety in China and many parents are worried about what they will feed their babies, he adds. |
| Analysts say the incident is an embarrassing failure for China's product safety system, which was revamped after a spate of international recalls and warnings last year over a range of goods. | Analysts say the incident is an embarrassing failure for China's product safety system, which was revamped after a spate of international recalls and warnings last year over a range of goods. |
| Meanwhile, rising public anger, expressed on China's active internet forums, is prompting reports of a crackdown by the government on reporting of the scandal. | Meanwhile, rising public anger, expressed on China's active internet forums, is prompting reports of a crackdown by the government on reporting of the scandal. |
| Are you in China? Have you been affected by this story? | Are you in China? Have you been affected by this story? |