Market inspections ordered after baby health scare

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-14 11:21

BEIJING -- The Chinese market watchdog has ordered "timely" and "thorough" inspections in the wake of a baby milk powder contamination case which has left one infant dead.

Once spotted, all the Sanlu brand baby milk powder manufactured before August 6 should be immediately taken off shelf, said the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in an urgent notice issued Saturday night.

The Sanlu Group, a leading Chinese dairy producer based in northern Hebei Province, admitted Friday that it had found some of its baby milk powder products were contaminated with melamine, a chemical raw material. It issued an immediate recall of milk formula made before August 6.

The provincial government has ordered a halt of production of the Sanlu Group. The contamination has caused kidney stones of at least 432 babies, according to initial investigation.