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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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China Milk Scandal Trials Begin

Toxic formula left 6 babies dead, 300,000 others ill

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(Newser) – Trials began today in China for six people accused of intentionally tainting and selling the milk powder that killed six babies and sickened 300,000, the Guardian reports. The men added the toxic chemical melamine to diluted milk to help it pass quality tests in one of China’s worst food safety scares. Sentences could begin at 10 years, lawyers said.

One defendant is charged with producing 868 tons of the contaminated powder and selling it for nearly $1 million. The company that sold the milk is also under fire for alerting health officials months after it learned of the contamination. Sanlu is now in bankruptcy, and its former general manager could face the death penalty when her trial begins next week.

Melamine-tainted Sanlu products, including baby formula, are pushed into a pond at a garbage dump in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.
Melamine-tainted Sanlu products, including baby formula, are pushed into a pond at a garbage dump in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A business administration officer looks at a pile of melamine-tainted Sanlu products, including baby formula, in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.
A business administration officer looks at a pile of melamine-tainted Sanlu products, including baby formula, in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, Nov. 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Worried Hong Kong parents took their children for health checkups after the government announced a 3-year-old local girl who drank contaminated Chinese milk was diagnosed with a kidney stone.
Worried Hong Kong parents took their children for health checkups after the government announced a 3-year-old local girl who drank contaminated Chinese milk was diagnosed with a kidney stone.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Philippine authorities have temporarily banned the importation and selling of Chinese milk products as a precaution after the discovery of Melamine-contaminated milk that has sickened thousands.
Philippine authorities have temporarily banned the importation and selling of Chinese milk products as a precaution after the discovery of Melamine-contaminated milk that has sickened thousands.   (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Six men have gone on trial in China accused of making and selling the chemical at the centre of the tainted milk scandal.
Six men have gone on trial in China accused of making and selling the chemical at the centre of the tainted milk scandal.   (Shutter Stock)
China's Health Ministry said 6 babies may have died after consuming tainted milk powder and announced a six-fold increase in its tally of infants sickened in the scandal to nearly 300,000.
China's Health Ministry said 6 babies may have died after consuming tainted milk powder and announced a six-fold increase in its tally of infants sickened in the scandal to nearly 300,000.   (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
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Lula
Dec 26, 08 8:27 PM CST
Why do we buy anything that comes from China????? Reply
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