Beijing - At least six infants died and 294,000 were taken
ill as a result of being fed milk contaminated with melamine, the
Chinese Health Ministry said Tuesday.
Four months after the scandal of melamine contamination was
revealed, 861 infants and babies are still hospitalized with kidney
problems. In total, 154 are in a serious but stable condition, the
health ministry said.
The six fatalities included three babies whose deaths were
reported earlier as a result of the contamination. Two deaths occured
in Gansu province, and one each in the provinces Jiangxi, Zhejiang,
Guizhou and Shaanxi.
About 294,000 infants fell sick, with 51,900 requiring hospital
treatment, mostly after developing kidney stones from milk formula
tainted with melamine, a binding agent used for making fertilizers
and coating fibres in furniture production.
The number of children taken ill was about five times higher than
originally thought.
The use of the chemical was widespread in China's milk and
formula production because it made products appear to have a higher
degree of protein.
Tens of thousands of tons of milk and dairy products were
withdrawn from the market after high levels of melamine were also
found in some fresh milk, long-life milk, yoghurt and sweets.
The chemical was also found in eggs and egg products as melamine
was also used to produce fake-quality foodstuffs for animals.
As a result of the scandal, exports of Chinese dairy products
plunged 92 per cent in October compared to the same month of the
previous year, the newspaper China Daily reported.
DiogenesDec 3rd, 2008 - 04:10:26
Lord what a miracle! Out of 294,000 infants made ill by this poison, on six have died. That's just amazing! Only six dead despite 51,000 or more of them requiring hospital treatment. I really am amazed. They tell a whopper like this and nary a peep out of the western press questioning their claims.
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