Third infant death reported; fivefold rise in babies affected
Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday ordered all mainland dairy products checked for contamination and presaged sweeping reform of the industry.
The central government announced a fivefold rise in the number of babies known to have been affected by melamine-tainted formula, to more than 6,000, and a third death, as industry middlemen arrested in Hebei reportedly confessed they had been adding the industrial chemical to milk for 31/2 years.
The Hong Kong government ordered tests of all dairy products imported from the mainland.
Melamine was first found in baby formula produced by Hebei-based Sanlu Group, one of the three market leaders, but since last week it has been found in samples of baby milk from 21 other producers, including the other dairy giants, Mengniu and Yili. Adding melamine to milk makes its protein content appear higher.
Li Changjiang , head of the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), said 5,000 inspectors in 1,400 teams had been sent to oversee all companies' processing of milk into baby formula.