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Health Ministry: Tainted milk powder cause of infant kidney stones

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

BEIJING - A preliminary investigation confirmed the contaminated Sanlu baby milk powder as the cause of kidney stones in infants after a first-phase probe by experts, China's Ministry of Health said here on Friday.

A woman holding her sick baby is seen at Sanlu Group, Shijiazhuang, North China's Hebei Province, September 12, 2008. The baby suffered from kidney stone after drinking milk powder made by Sanlu. [Xinhua]

An investigation team jointly organized by departments including the health, public security, agriculture ministries and quality watchdog examined the urine and kidney stones of the infant patients and found the substance melamine therein.

The investigation team, which is in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, where dairy producer Sanlu Group is based, is now coordinating with the local government to investigate the incident.

"Those responsible for the contaminated milk will face severe punishment," said an official with the team.

The team arrived in Hebei on Friday. After listening to the local government's report on its handling of the incident, they collected samples and documents from the Sanlu Group and the local quality testing agency. They also visited the affected babies in local hospitals and gave advice on the treatment.

Sanlu, one of China's leading dairy producers, found during an internal company investigation in August its powdered milk products were contaminated with melamine, according to the team's investigation.

The statement didn't say why the company didn't release the findings until news reports exposed dozens of babies became sick with kidney stones after consuming the Sanlu brand of baby milk powder for a prolonged period.

Health experts said melamine is a chemical raw material. Ingestion can lead to stone formation in the urinary tract.

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