Dozens of Chinese babies die from malnutrition after being fed fake formula

DOZENS of babies in eastern China have died from malnutrition after being fed fake milk formula with virtually no nutritional value.

The deaths prompted demands from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for a “thorough investigation and severe punishment” of the formula’s manufacturers, according to the official China Daily.

Up to 200 babies in the impoverished inland province of Anhui who were fed the formula developed what doctors called “big head disease”, causing the infants’ heads to grow abnormally large while their bodies wasted away.

Some babies died within three days of being fed the formula, while others were in hospital.

The report said that from April last year, about 50 to 60 babies died from malnutrition after being fed the formula. That number could rise.

The fake formula was purchased from shops in Fuyang, a city in Anhui.

Some contained less than 0.035 ounces of protein per 3.5 ounces, about 1/18th of the standard content, said a specialist with the Fuyang Health Department’s Food Supervision Bureau. Important minerals such as iron and zinc were completely missing, said the specialist.