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Chinese Police Detain 19 In Baby Food Contamination

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The New York Times

Published: September 14, 2008

SHANGHAI, China - China said Saturday that 19 people had been detained by the police as part of an investigation into how baby formula had become contaminated with an industrial chemical.

The formula is implicated in the death of one infant, and at least 432 others have kidney problems.

The government also said Saturday that the Sanlu Group, China's biggest producer of milk powder formula, received complaints about its powder in March and recalled some products but delayed reporting the problems to the government or the public.

Last week, the Sanlu Group recalled 700 tons of powdered formula, and Saturday the government said the company had been ordered to stop producing and selling it.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration said no formula from China had been approved for import.

The government said a preliminary investigation had determined that the infant formula had been intentionally contaminated by melamine, an industrial chemical that is used in some plastics.

Last year, the same chemical was found in animal feed from China that was sold to pet food makers in the United States.

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