FDA: Beware of Chinese baby formula
TEXT OF STORY
Bob Moon: The FDA is warning consumers against buying Chinese-made baby formula at ethnic markets. Tainted infant formula has been linked to the death of one baby in China. Dozens of other are hospitalized with severe kidney ailments. Chinese formula is not approved to be sold in the U.S., but the FDA wants Americans to keep a watch out, in case it turns up illegally. From Shanghai, Marketplace’s Scott Tong has more.
Scott Tong: China’s top baby formula company says it found the chemical melamine in its product. Melamine is found in pesticide, and it acts as a fake protein in food testing. The same substance turned up, last year, in Chinese-exported pet food that killed American dogs and cats.
The formula company is called Sanlu. And today an official today blamed the crisis on “evil” dairy suppliers for providing tainted milk. For now, the scare is in China, but Shaun Rein of China Market Research says the reputation of every Chinese export is once again on the line.
Shaun Rein: It could transfer not just into the baby formula sector but also seafood, toys and other items that are exporting from China, so it’s a real issue here.
Beijing has issued a nationwide recall and probe, and it warned violators would face serious punishment.
In Shanghai I’m Scott Tong for Marketplace.
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