Suspects in China’s ‘biggest baby milk scandal in decade’ go on trial
Group accused of passing off cheaper baby milk formula as well-known brand names
A group of 12 people accused of making and selling fake branded baby milk powder in what could be the biggest milk formula scandal in a decade in China went on trial in Shanghai on Monday.
The case was first brought to light by the government’s food safety watchdog after complaints by the US- baby milk powder producer Abbott, which was a victim of the fakes.
The case comes after the outcry in 2008 when at least six children died after some producers for the Sanlu Group were found to have added melamine to their products to make it look like watered-down milk was high in protein.
The scandal shattered Chinese public confidence in domestic milk powder products and drove them to look for imported alternatives, including buying up supplies in Hong Kong.
The group on trial in Shanghai, headed by Chen Mingjiang and Pan Xingbing who had years of experience in selling milk powder, are accused of buying low-grade milk powder and repackaging it as famous brands, according to the State Council’s food safety office.
They allegedly began to purchase lower-grade, domestically-produced products from Beingmate in 2014 and then repackaged them as more expensive products from the same firm.