Government pushes formula makers to raise product quality

Scandal

In 2008, public confidence was severely damaged when six children died after drinking infant formula made by Sanlu Group in Hebei province that had been tainted with Melamine, a compound used in the production of plastics. According to China's health authority, about 54,000 babies were hospitalized.

Since then, many parents have used foreign-made formulas, which they either buy online or acquire from relatives and students living overseas.

A 2013 poll conducted by Sohu, an online news portal, showed that 89.54 percent of the 15,870 respondents chose formulas made overseas.

Zhang, a 25-year-old mother in Beijing who preferred not to give her full name, said she has never considered giving her baby Chinese-made formula.

"When I was pregnant, I started doing research on an app called Baby Tree. Then I discovered Meitun, a trustworthy cross-border e-commerce platform, and bought German-made Aptamil for my son, who is now age 1. After about two months, he adapted to the formula well," she said.

"I have confidence in locally made products such as mobile phones or cars, but not formula, which is my baby's main food. No mother can risk her baby's health on brands without strong reputations."

Dai Meijuan, a mother in Changchun, Jilin province, also gave her daughter Aptamil, but the child didn't like it, so she changed to Nutrilon, made in the Netherlands.

"I don't completely understand the English instructions on the packaging, but foreign brands are always considered better than local ones. I don't know why, it's just a kind of preference even though I know some local brands are fine," she said.

However, the large number of parents looking to buy formula from overseas has resulted in some foreign store chains taking measures to limit purchases.

Zhang Xin, who studies in Australia, began purchasing formula for friends in China two years ago. She said Woolworths, an international retail chain, imposed a limit of two units per customer per purchase last year.

Moreover, the formulas, especially Aptamil and A2, are not usually available on the shelf, which means customers have to ask an assistant for the product.