Liquid milk sold by three Chinese firms contaminated

New Delhi, Sep 19 : Liquid milk sold by three leading Chinese companies is contaminated with melamine, leading to four infant deaths caused by the chemical.

The fourth death was reported from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Thursday. Two kids in Gansu and one in Zhejiang had fallen victim to contaminated milk earlier.

A total of 6,244 infants who were fed contaminated milk food produced by Sanlu Group have been diagnosed with various urinary tract problems, including kidney stones.

Police in Shijiazhuang, where Sanlu is based, said 12 people were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in the milk food scandal, taking the total number of arrests to 18, the China Daily reported.

Tests conducted on liquid milk over the past few days showed 24 of the 1,202 batches were contaminated, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in a report.

The AQSIQ, however, quoted scientists, as saying the contamination level in liquid milk did not pose a big threat to people's health. Even milk with the highest concentration of melamine is safe for a 60-kg or heavier adult if he or she drinks up to two liters a day.

The highest concentration of melamine was found in Bright Dairy products. Every kg of its liquid milk contained 8.6 mg of melamine.

The three firms' milk powder products, too, had tested positive for melamine, and they had started recalling those products.

ANI