Guangdong to boost infant formula imports amid tainted milk scandal

Southern China’s Guangdong province will import infant formula from overseas to fill a shortfall in the province as the tainted infant milk powder scandal unfolds, China Business News reported, citing Ren Xiaotie, deputy director of the provincial food safety authority. Yashili, a local brand, was discovered to be one of 22 producers nationwide whose infant powder was contaminated with the chemical melamine, which may cause kidney stones if overconsumed. Melanine can be used to mask diluted milk. “Over 10,000 cartons of Yashili formula were found tainted, of which 80% were recalled,” Ren told a news briefing. Hubei province-based Sanlu Group, in which New Zealand dairy maker Fonterra holds a 43% stake, is to blame for the recent deaths of three babies who were fed its tainted formula and developed kidney stones. Despite the tainted formula scandal, the newspaper reported Tuesday that Mead Johnson plans to begin sourcing in China to end its reliance on imported infant milk powders for local sales.