China's milk scandal escalates
Updated
More than 6,000 babies and young children in China are now known to have fallen ill, as the country's latest food contamination scandal continues to worsen. Three infants have died, and at least 158 others have been diagnosed with acute kidney failure, after being fed milk contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine. Melamine is used to make plastics, and 22 milk companies have been accused of using it to boost the appearance of milk protein. In Hong Kong authorities are being urged to test all dairy products from the mainland.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speakers: Fred Li Wah-ming, Democrat Member of parliament and deputy chairman of the Legislative Council's panel on food safety; Chen Zhu, Chinese Minister of Health; Li Changjiang, Head of the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
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SNOWDON: Melamine causes kidney stones. It's banned from use in food; it's a by-product of plastics and glue making. Dairy companies in China have been using it in baby formula to give the impression of higher protein content. It means they can get a better price.
CHEN ZHU: From 12th (of September) on the 17th of September 2008, 6244 kids have been reported to be sick. With the announcement of the result of the nationwide melamine test on the baby formula milk powder, more and more parents will take their children to hospitals for check ups.
SNOWDON: Health Minister Chen Zhu telling a press conference that in the last five days 6,200 children have been reported sick. He expects a further sharp increase in the numbers admitted to hospital. At first it was thought only one company, the state-owned Sanlu had used melamine. After testing, investigators from China's Quality, Inspection and Quarantine Administration found 22 companies doing the same thing. Of 490 milk samples tested, 69 were contaminated. Four suppliers have been arrested and 22 others are being questioned. Four companies including China's biggest dairy group are recalling their products.
LI CHANGJIANG: Among the tested baby formula dairy enterprises, the Yashili from Guangdong and the Suncare from Qingdao are exporting their products to the following countries Bangladesh, Myanmar, Yemen, Burundi and Gabon.
Li Changjiang Head of the Inspection and Quarantine service says the companies Yashli and Suncare are exporting their products to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Yemen, Burundi and Gabon, although no contamination was found in the exports. However he later confirmed that melamine had been found in a yogurt ice-bar made by Yili, and sold in Hong Kong. Fred Li Wah-ming, Democrat Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the government's panel on food safety, says like the mainland authorities, the Hong Kong Government has been too slow to respond.
LI: Because everybody concerned particularly parents with younger kids, babies. So I think our department acted slowly, not really responsive to the worry of the people of Hong Kong.
SNOWDON: Which department is responsible?
LI: Environmental and Hygienne Department. You know the company, the supermarket issued a press release much earlier than the government. I think that's unacceptable.
SNOWDON: The Centre for Food Safety's website in Hong Kong says it's tested several dozen milk products from the mainland and a canned drink from Taiwan. It found no melamine except a trace amount in the Yili ice yoghurt bar which it said was not dangerous. Fred Li is calling for screening of all dairy products and says there will be a consumer backlash.
LI: The consumer here will not really dare to buy any dairy products from the mainland. And the Mainland Government should really give us the full picture to get our confidence back.
SNOWDON: China has had other scandals about toxic food and unsafe products. In 2004, at least 13 babies died after drinking fake milk powder that had no nutritional value. This latest scandal only came to light after the New Zealand government alerted Beijing. Sanlu's New Zealand partner Fonterra raised the alarm, it said, because its request for a product recall in China had been ignored. Chinese authorities say all dairy products will be tested and its hoped farmers and agents will see it as a turning point. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, gave this assurance.
JIANG YU: The Chinese government attaches great attention to the issue and has always adopted a highly responsible approach on food security and product safety. We are completing food safety and quality supervision systems, and we hope to guarantee food safety.
SNOWDON: As it appears the practice of using melamine in dairy based food is widespread, it seems nothing short of a revamp of the dairy manufacturing industry will provide that guarantee, along with an end to cover-ups.
