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Health Ministry: Tainted milk powder cause of infant kidney stones

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-12 23:45

A thermosetting plastic, melamine has an appearance similar to milk powder. It is widely used in manufacturing fabric, glue, housewares and flame retardants.

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"The substance gives the appearance of a high nitrogen level, which is an index to measure the protein content in food," a health expert told Xinhua. He declined to be named.

One baby in the northwest Gansu province died from the stones. At least 59 cases had been reported in Gansu and other provinces.

Sanlu had sealed off 2,176 tonnes of contaminated milk powder and recalled 8,210 tonnes from the market. There were still 700 tonnes in circulation. All the contaminated formula was produced before August 6.

Supermarkets in some provinces had started to pull the milk powder off shelves.

The Health Ministry said on Friday it had launched a nationwide investigation into the contaminated milk formula. All local health agencies were to report cases of infants with kidney stones immediately. It also issued a treatment plan on its website (www.moh.gov.cn) to help hospitals deal with sick babies.

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