303 batches of Chinese milk found chemical-free

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-01 10:15

BEIJING -- Milk quality testing continued throughout China in the wake of a deadly contamination scandal.

None of the toxic chemical melamine was found in 303 samples of China's major milk brands in recent days, said the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) on Tuesday.

In all, GAQSIQ conducted milk, yogurt and other dairy products quality checks on 58 brands across the country's 22 major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing, among others.

Apart from the testing on baby formula, the quality watchdog also conducted quality tests on other types of milk powder recently.

The GAQSIQ had sample tests on 154 dairy companies and found no melamine in 134 plants' products, accounting for 87 percent of the total.

It had sample tests on 265 batches of products manufactured before September 14 from these companies and found 234 batches melamine free, accounting for 88.3 percent of the total.

The other 31 batches were confirmed to contain melamine. Most of the problem products were from plants under northern Hebei-based Sanlu Group.

A nationwide inspection of baby milk powder was ordered on September 11 after media reported dairy products produced by Sanlu and other Chinese brands contained melamine.