China media warn of poison baby bottles, clothes

BEIJING, May 31 (Reuters) China has publicised a triple health scare for parents, warning of poisonous baby bottles, toxic children's clothes and unsafe toys.

Health officials in China, where fake baby powder led to the deaths of at least 13 babies two years ago, were searching supermarkets for baby bottles ''that may have been made from recycled compact discs'', the Shanghai Daily said.

The bottles, first discovered in a spot check and since found in more than 10 wholesalers, contained twice the legal limit of hydroxybenzene, a chemical that dissolves in heated milk and causes liver and kidney damage, the newspaper said.

Reclaimed plastic, hidden in sugar bags, was used to make the bottles because it is ''much cheaper than clean material'' a factory manager was quoted as saying.

Three factories had been closed, it said.

Recent tests in the booming southern province of Guangdong had revealed the presence of aromatic amine -- a harmful dye that can cause bladder or urethra cancer if it comes into extended contact with skin -- in about 10 per cent of inspected children's clothing, the China Daily reported.

The test for aromatic amine was one of eight that took place.

Only half the clothes passed all the tests, while a similar nationwide study found 37.8 per cent had failed.

The national study also examined toys, failing 83.3 percent of cloth toys and 37 per cent of toys overall, the China Daily said.

It didn't elaborate.

In 2004, China launched a crackdown on milk powder sales after at least 13 babies died and nearly 200 fell ill after being fed fake milk powder in a scandal that drew attention to the widespread problem of pirated goods.

An inspection team also found more than 50 companies had produced inferior-quality milk.

REUTERS SRS KN1022