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China milk scandal companies offer to compensate victims

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-27 16:44

BEIJING - Victims who fell ill or died after drinking tainted baby formula will soon get financial compensation from 22 Chinese dairy producers, China's Dairy Industry Association announced here Saturday.

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Victims will get a one-time cash payment, the association said, without going in to specific numbers.

"The enterprises offered to shoulder the compensation liability. By doing so, they hope to earn understanding and forgiveness of the families of the sickened children," the association said.

In all, 22 dairy producers, including the Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu Group, sold products tainted with an industrious chemical known as melamine.

The Ministry of Health said it was likely the contamination killed six babies. Another 294,000 infants suffered from urinary problems such as kidney stones.