China/ Health

Nearly 53,000 children ill from toxic milk powder

Article published on the 2008-09-22 Latest update 2008-09-23 07:31 TU

Testing milk powder for melamine contamination
(Credit: Reuters)

The Chinese government announced Monday that some 53,000 children, most under two years of age, have been sickened by toxic milk powder contaminated by melamine, a chemical used to make plastics. Four have already died and 104 are in serious condition, creating panic around the world and causing various governments to ban Chinese-made milk powder.

In Asia, China's product-quality agency head Li Changjiang stepped down Monday over the tainted milk issue. The top communist party official in Shijiazhuang City, where the tainted milk first appeared under the Sanlu brand, was also sacked according to China's official news agency.

Hanoi and Taipei also recalled milk imported from China after it was revealed that the product could be contaminated with melamine.

Countries in Africa including Gabon, Burundi and Tanzania, also banned all milk power from China over the weekend.

In Bujumbura, sacks of contaminated milk powder were found, says correspondent Judith Basutama. Fears that the poisoned milk could have reached other parts of the country cannot be ruled out.

“The Burundi bureau of standards has not started investigations in other parts of the country,” Basutama says.

Tanzanian Deputy Health Minister Asha Kigoda said that some suspect bags of powdered milk had been found over the weekend in the capital. 

"We have to test it to make sure it is safe, or not," said Kigoda, who said the samples going "Right now we don't have any clue if the milk has got melamine in it."

Meanwhile, France, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, said Europe must create more stringent policies in monitoring food and product quality.