1,253 victims in Sanlu formula scandal

Southern Metropolis Daily
September 16, 2008

Today's papers continue to devote their attention to the Sanlu infant formula scandal as more victims came to light. Sanlu, whose milk powder caused kidney stones in infants, has now been blamed for the 1,253 cases, including two deaths.

A photo showing Sanlu's vice president Zhang Zhenlin bowing during his apology to the public appears in many of today's newspapers, including the Southern Metropolis Daily. Zhang's apology was made at a news conference on September 15. Zhang said that in addition to the company's previous recall of products produced before August 6, the company will also provide refunds to customers if they have reservations over the product they purchased which were produced after August 6.

At the same news conference, Hebei police said that two brothers in Hebei Province who provided milk to Sanlu confessed that they mixed melamine into the milk in order to pass Sanlu's inspections. The two suspects began to adulterate their milk after it was turned down by Sanlu in 2007. Nineteen suspects involved in the incidents are now in police custody.

A total of 8,218 tons of tainted milk powder has been recalled and 700 tons more will be collected shortly.

A related piece in The Beijing News reports that products from Jiuquan-based dairy Haoniu (好牛) tested positive for melamine on September 15th. The test results were later overturned, and the government explained that they were caused by a mistake on the part of the testers, who confused Sanlu samples for Haoniu. Retests did not show melamine in Haoniu milk.