15 more Chinese firms with tainted dairy products

A FURTHER 15 Chinese dairy companies were identified yesterday as producing milk products contaminated with an industrial chemical, broadening a scandal affecting products ranging from baby formula to chocolate, authorities said.

The contamination has been blamed for the deaths of four children and kidney ailments of 54,000 others. More than 13,000 children have been hospitalised and 27 people arrested in connection with the tainting.

An additional 31 batches of Chinese milk powder were found tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, according to the food safety administration’s website yesterday. Out of the 20 companies on the list, 15 have not been named in previous tests.