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| China stops tainted sweet sales | China stops tainted sweet sales |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Chinese sweet maker has stopped domestic sales of one of its best-known brands after it was found to contain the industrial chemical melamine. | A Chinese sweet maker has stopped domestic sales of one of its best-known brands after it was found to contain the industrial chemical melamine. |
| The company, Guanshengyuan, has already halted exports of the popular White Rabbit candy, made from milk. | The company, Guanshengyuan, has already halted exports of the popular White Rabbit candy, made from milk. |
| It is the latest development in the food safety scandal involving milk contaminated with melamine. | It is the latest development in the food safety scandal involving milk contaminated with melamine. |
| A growing number of countries have already banned or restricted imports of Chinese products containing milk. | A growing number of countries have already banned or restricted imports of Chinese products containing milk. |
| Four babies have died and some 53,000 children were made ill by drinking contaminated powder milk. | |
| 'Tragedy' | 'Tragedy' |
| Guanshengyuan is a subsidiary of Bright Foods - one of the dairies at the centre of the contaminated milk scandal. | Guanshengyuan is a subsidiary of Bright Foods - one of the dairies at the centre of the contaminated milk scandal. |
| SCANDAL TIMELINE 10 Sept: 14 babies reported ill in Gansu province. Cases reported in north, east and central China13 Sept: Sanlu Group identified as source of contaminated powder milk. Production halted, 19 arrests15 Sept: Beijing confirms two babies have died and 1,253 are ill. Taiwan bans baby milk products17 Sept: Third baby confirmed dead. Toll of sick infants rises to 6,20019 Sept: Death toll rises to four. Scandal widens with melamine found in ordinary milk from three well-known dairies. Singapore and Hong Kong recall some Chinese products20 Sept: All affected children are given free check-ups and treatment22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to 53,000. Head of China's quality watchdog resigns. Twenty-two firms implicated in scandal.23 Sept: Countries across Asia either test Chinese dairy products or pull them from shops24 Sept: China's chief food inspection official says scandal is under control26 Sept: EU bans Chinese baby food with milk traces and tests other Chinese food. Production of popular sweet White Rabbit halted after tests detect melamine | |
| Its announcement that it was halting all sales of White Rabbit candy follows the decision to recall exports to more than 50 countries, after some of its sweets tested positive for melamine in Singapore earlier this week. | Its announcement that it was halting all sales of White Rabbit candy follows the decision to recall exports to more than 50 countries, after some of its sweets tested positive for melamine in Singapore earlier this week. |
| Ge Junjie, a vice-president of Bright Foods, said the firm had taken the decision to halt sales, even though the results of tests were not yet known. | Ge Junjie, a vice-president of Bright Foods, said the firm had taken the decision to halt sales, even though the results of tests were not yet known. |
| "It's a tragedy for the Chinese food industry and a big lesson for us as it ruined the time-honoured brand," he was quoted by the Shanghai Daily as saying. | "It's a tragedy for the Chinese food industry and a big lesson for us as it ruined the time-honoured brand," he was quoted by the Shanghai Daily as saying. |
| Both Canadian and British regulators have already asked shops to withdraw White Rabbit sweets, while the Philippines has ordered all Chinese-made dairy products to be pulled from shelves. | Both Canadian and British regulators have already asked shops to withdraw White Rabbit sweets, while the Philippines has ordered all Chinese-made dairy products to be pulled from shelves. |
| Meanwhile, a Europe wide ban on all children's food containing any traces of milk imported from China came into force on Friday morning. Other Chinese food is being tested. | Meanwhile, a Europe wide ban on all children's food containing any traces of milk imported from China came into force on Friday morning. Other Chinese food is being tested. |
| Officials in Brussels are emphasising that as far as they know there has been no contamination of food originating from China, the BBC's Europe correspondent Chris Mason says. | Officials in Brussels are emphasising that as far as they know there has been no contamination of food originating from China, the BBC's Europe correspondent Chris Mason says. |
| Peak reached? | Peak reached? |
| The scandal came to light earlier this month when baby milk powder from the Sanlu Group was found to contain the industrial chemical melamine. | The scandal came to light earlier this month when baby milk powder from the Sanlu Group was found to contain the industrial chemical melamine. |
| We might be starting to see the end of it, even if I don't think we are yet at that level Hans TroedssonWorld Health Organization, China | |
| Since then, at least 22 other companies have been implicated - and milk products made by the Yili, Mengniu and Bright Foods groups have been recalled both at home and abroad. | Since then, at least 22 other companies have been implicated - and milk products made by the Yili, Mengniu and Bright Foods groups have been recalled both at home and abroad. |
| On Friday, the World Health Organisation's China representative said the scandal may have peaked, but warned there could be more deaths. | On Friday, the World Health Organisation's China representative said the scandal may have peaked, but warned there could be more deaths. |
| "We might be starting to see the end of it, even if I don't think we are yet at that level, because there is now vigorous testing, not only in China, but in other countries," said Hans Troedsson. | "We might be starting to see the end of it, even if I don't think we are yet at that level, because there is now vigorous testing, not only in China, but in other countries," said Hans Troedsson. |
| Melamine is used in making plastics and is high in nitrogen, which makes products appear to have a higher protein content. | Melamine is used in making plastics and is high in nitrogen, which makes products appear to have a higher protein content. |
| Health experts say that ingesting small amounts does no harm but sustained use can cause kidney stones and renal failure, especially among the young. | Health experts say that ingesting small amounts does no harm but sustained use can cause kidney stones and renal failure, especially among the young. |