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Saturday, October 11, 2008
10,000 children still in hospital over milk scandal
MORE than 10,000 children remain in hospital after being affected in China’s tainted milk scandal, officials said, as the government released its first rules on allowable levels of the chemical blamed for the ailments.
Eight of the 10,666 children were in serious condition after drinking milk powder contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, which can lead to kidney stones and life-threatening kidney failure, the Chinese health ministry said in a statement. No new deaths have been recorded.
The scandal has so far been blamed for the deaths of four babies and the sickening of about 54,000 others in China.
But the effects of the scandal continue to be felt, forcing the government to deal with festering health and public relations issues.
China’s food exports have suffered significantly, with more than 30 countries restricting Chinese dairy products and in some cases all Chinese food exports.
Singapore’s food safety agency said it found traces of melamine in three more Chinese-made products.
It said the chemical was detected in samples of blueberry and chocolate flavoured Cadbury Choclairs and Panda Dairy-brand whole milk powder.
Hong Kong’s food regulator said it found melamine in EDO Pack Almond Cacao Biscuit Sticks produced by Hong Kong company EDO Trading Co.
Chinese dairy suppliers have been accused of adding melamine to watered-down milk to make the product appear rich in protein and fool quality control tests.
Under health ministry guidelines released recently, melamine is now limited to one part per million for infant formula and 2.5 parts per million for liquid milk, milk powder and food products that contain more than 15% milk.
Levels discovered in batches of milk powder recently registered as much as 6,196 parts per million.
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