Rumor mongers milk it

BEIJING - A highly publicized incident about milk products that caused baby girls to develop breasts may have been a smear campaign by a competitor.

Mengniu Dairy Co, the largest dairy company in the country by market value, on Wednesday denied rumors that it was assisted by a public relations company in plotting online attacks against its competitors, the Yili Group and Synutra International.

Rumors are now circulating that Mengniu made up a story that spread online in July, which claimed Yili's infant formula contained fish oil that could lead to premature sexual development.