Society

Chongqing seizes melamine-laced milk powder

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-26 23:50

CHONGQING - Southwest China's Chongqing municipality has seized more than 26,000 kilograms of melamine-contaminated milk powder, local authorities said on Tuesday.

A one-month investigation by policemen from the local Public Security Bureau revealed that the milk powder, intended for use as an ingredient in ice cream, was laced with the industrial chemical melamine.

Produced by a dairy company in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the tainted milk powder was sold at a low price to the dairy manufacturer Chongqing Jixida Company in March of last year.

The tainted milk powder had not been put into production. Three people involved in the case were detained, said local police.

Melamine is an industrial chemical added to milk to fool inspectors by registering misleadingly high protein level test readings. Long-term intake of the chemical can cause severe damage to the kidneys.

Since February, policemen have seized a series of problematic food and medicinal products, including fake medications, contaminated soy bean paste, and deadly beverage additives in Chongqing municipality.