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Toxic Milk Poisons 6,000 Babies
Outrage over escalating scandal as 3 die
By Peter Fearon
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Posted Sep 17, 08 3:48 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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The toll from contaminated infant formula in China continues to mount alarmingly, with more than 6,000 babies poisoned and at least three killed, reports the BBC. Another 158 are suffering from acute kidney failure. The chemical melamine—which caused widespread pet deaths in contaminated food last year—has now been discovered in 22 brands of powdered milk. The chemical is used in plastics manufacturing, but it also makes the protein content of food appear higher.
Angry parents gathered outside the headquarters of the Sanlu Group in Shijiazhuang, the company that manufactured the milk. One protester said his twin daughters have eaten Sanlu products from birth. "So what if they give us our money back, you can't give our children their health back," he said. "I'm furious." Four people have already been arrested in the scandal.