432 Chinese babies have kidney stones from tainted milk powder

China's health minister said 432 babies had kidney stones after drinking contaminated milk powder and vowed to punish those responsible as the country's latest product safety scandal escalated yesterday.
Gao Qiang said production had been halted at Sanlu Group after industrial chemical melamine, added by farmers and milk sellers to boost protein content, was found in the powder.
"As of September 12, there are 432 cases of kidney stones in the urinary systems of infants according to reports from health departments nationwide," Gao told journalists.
The number was sharply up from figures reported earlier which put the number of affected babies at about 150, with one dead. Kidney stones are rare in babies and can block their urinary tracts.
More cases were likely to come to light as the ministry had only issued orders for health departments to report kidney stones in babies on Friday morning.
"We will severely punish and discipline those people and workers who have acted illegally," Gao said.
Melamine, a chemical used to make plastics, glues and other products, was at the centre of a US recall of pet foods containing Chinese-made additives last year.
Other controversies, including exports of toxic toothpaste and dumplings, have badly damaged the reputation of China's vital manufacturing industry.
Health minister Gao said the milk powder had not been exported although a small amount had been sent for "food processing" in Taiwan.
The US Food and Drug Administration has already alerted US markets to beware of Chinese-made baby formula and the World Health Organisation said it was monitoring the situation and providing "technical assistance" to China.
Taiwanese authorities on Saturday seized nearly 10 tonnes of milk powder imported from China, mainly of the Sanlu brand.
Shops across China, including global retailing giants Wal-Mart and Carrefour, have pulled the milk powder from their Friday after Sanlu issued a nationwide recall.
So far 19 people have been arrested while 78 others have been interrogated, Yang Zongyong, vice governor of the northern province of Hebei where Sanlu is based.
"Simply put ... the milk buyers add water to the milk to falsely increase the amount of milk," Gao said.
"At the same time, to ensure that the protein content of the milk is up to standard, they add melamine."
The minister said China's cabinet, the State Council, has ordered free medical care for all affected children.
He added that a series of lawsuits had been brought against Sanlu for allegedly tainted milk powder beginning in March this year and that the company had begun recalling and holding back the product then.
"But the Sanlu Group did not report to the government for a long period of time," Gao said. "The Sanlu Group must take a lot of responsibility for this problem."
Chinese state media condemned Sanlu, with the China Daily in an editorial Saturday calling the company's behaviour "appalling" and criticising government inspectors.
Among China's other safety debacles, 13 infants died in 2004 after drinking sub-standard milk powder. Chinese press said the case involved pirated Sanlu products.