Beijing, China (AHN) - China is trying hard to restore public confidence amid a deadly baby formula scare by establishing 24-hour crisis hotlines and ordering products recalled that have been shipped overseas. Milk and other related products have been taken off the shelves in markets across China, Honk Kong and Singapore following the country's largest contaminated milk scandal.
Last week, China's senior health minister acknowledged that more than 400 babies had reportedly fallen ill with kidney stones after drinking contaminated milk powder. The number later reached to 6,200 infants.
The Sanlu Group Co. that made Sanlu milk powder has been ordered to stop production and recalled the product from stores across China including hundreds of Carrefour and Wal-Mart stores. The group sells across 18 percent of China's market for milk powder and produces 6,800 tons of milk a day.
The dairy product maker confirmed that they had received complaints about its baby milk powder in March, but the company refrained from revealing the information to the authorities and public.
In addition, Ministry of Health of China issued a circular on Saturday to launch consulting hotlines in the wake of the baby milk powder scare, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. "Local authorities should rectify the dairy industry so as to bring a fundamental change to the dairy market and products," China's State Council said in a statement.
source: China Launches Milk Crisis Hotlines As Products Are Recalled Worldwide
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