CHINA BLAMES 97 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OVER MILK SCANDAL THAT CAUSED THE DEATHS OF AT LEAST 13 BABIES

 Health care officials of the Chinese city of Guyang seized more than 9 thousand packages of powdered milk from retail trade. Earlier in June 2004, in the south-west province of Guytsou more than 150 children were poisoned after using such product. Laboratory investigations of the milk powder showed that it contained a type of golden staphylococcus, which may cause heart ailments and even death. State newspapers in China informed that, the deadline for use of the powder was long expired and the companies trading in it re-packed the item, in order to sell it again, thus cheating the consumers. These enterprises had their licenses cancelled and were charged a fine of US dollars 24 thousand.
This is not the first scandal related to spurious milk powder. In April 2004, 
in the eastern Anhui province, 13 babies from Fuyang city died after unknowing parents bought the milk powder from rural markets. Nearly 200 infants suffered malnourishment, leading to a medical complication called "big head" disease by local residents. Investigators uncovered more than 100 factories making bogus formula, consisting mostly of starch and water. Some 54 producers of the milk powder were shut down. Two officials were jailed for more than two years in August, for failing to investigate or take necessary action after receiving a complaint about the milk from a parent whose child had died. One shopkeeper was jailed for eight years for selling the substandard milk, which has almost no nutritional value. Correspondents said the emerging picture was of corrupt officials conniving with unscrupulous factory owners to continue selling the bogus powder despite receiving complaints from parents of the infant victims. The case highlighted China's woeful food safety standards, and triggered a stream of reports about other harmful foods, like fake soy sauce and vegetables pickled in industrial salt. The officials are accused of "not discovering or fully investigating the problem," the China Daily quoted the Ministry of Supervision as saying. Each person's precise role would be identified before they were punished, the newspaper reported.