78 questioned in powder milk contamination

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-12 19:32

Stores pull contaminated milk powder off shelves

Hundreds of Carrefour and Wal-Mart stores in China are pulling Sanlu milk powder off shelves.

The withdrawal came after both the health authority and Sanlu confirmed the milk to be contaminated with a toxic chemical.

Dong Yuguo, spokesman for Wal-Mart China, said on Friday the company received notices to stop selling the formula.

Xinhua's reporter did not find Sanlu milk powder on shelves in one of the Wal-Mart stores in the Xuanwu District, Beijing, Friday afternoon. The store staff said the brand was ordered to be withdrawn.

Wal-Mart now has 109 stores in China.

Chen Bo, national communications manager of Carrefour China, also confirmed it sent out an urgent notice Friday morning to all 118 of its stores to pull the product off shelves.

One baby died of kidney stones and more than 50 others were reported sick in northwestern Gansu and other provinces throughout China this year. Investigations showed most of the babies, from rural and poor areas, drank the Sanlu milk powder.

Sanlu Group, a leading Chinese dairy producer, said on Thursday, it's own tests showed tripolycyanamide in the formula.

The substance, also known as melamine, is frequently used to produce low-end furniture and is considered toxic. Constant exposure to the chemical could cause kidney dysfunction even in adults.

China's quality watchdog, the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, has also sent a team to Sanlu to investigate the cause of the contamination. Meanwhile, it is also doing a nationwide check of other company's baby milk powder products.

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