Cancer-causing toxin found in baby formula

A cancer-causing toxin has been found in baby formula in China, the latest quality problem to hit the dairy industry since a 2008 poison scandal that killed six infants.

Aflatoxin was found in five batches of Nanshan Bywise brand formula made last year by Hunan Ava Dairy Industry in Hunan province’s Nanshan city that were being sold in Guangzhou.

The five problem batches were boxes, bags or tins of powder weighing between 400g and 900g and manufactured between July and December last year.

A low dose of aflatoxin is not considered harmful, but high doses are linked to cancer.

Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that can grow on hay or grains and appear in the milk of animals that eat the mildewed feed.

It previously has been detected in milk from China’s biggest dairy company, Mengniu, and another company, Changfu.

Last month, another industry leader, Yili Industrial Group, announced it had recalled infant formula because it was tainted with “unusual” levels of mercury.

China’s food chain, and especially the dairy industry, has come under increased scrutiny in recent years because of a series of safety problems.