Swiss baby formula ‘adulterated by Chinese partner’

The Chinese partner of Hero Group, a major Swiss baby formula manufacturer, has been accused of adulterating Hero’s production and a senior official has been detained, state media said on Thursday.

State broadcaster CCTV said Xile Lier had been mixing out-of-date formula with supplies imported under its partnership agreement with Hero, and the Chinese firm’s “legal representative” had been held for unspecified “criminal activities”.

It is the latest food safety scandal to hit China. Baby formula is a particularly sensitive product after at least six babies died and another 300,000 became ill in 2008 from drinking milk tainted with the toxic chemical compound melamine.

Demand for imported baby milk has soared as a result, even leading to stock shortages in supermarkets abroad as Chinese buyers snap up the products in bulk and ship them back for family or re-sale.

Hong Kong last month imposed limits on travellers’ formula exports to China.

CCTV said government investigators had accused Xile Lier of illegal practices including mixing imported formula with out-of-date product, changing sell-by dates on packaging, and re-labelling formula for older babies as more expensive milk for younger children.

Authorities in Suzhou in the eastern province of Jiangsu, where Xile Lier is based, said they shut down production lines at the firm in November after a whistle-blower’s report.