Melamine Tainted Milk Still Hospitalizing Nearly 6000 Children

Chinese Health Ministry says nearly 6,000 Chinese babies are still in the hospital with kidney problems caused by contaminated milk powder. Six of these children are in serious condition.

The Associated Press reports that authorities have blamed dairy suppliers for the food safety scandal that began last month, saying they added melamine to watered-down milk to fool quality control tests and make the product appear rich in protein. The tainted milk scandal has sparked global concern about Chinese food products, with more than 30 countries restricting Chinese dairy products, and in some cases all imports of Chinese-made food. In the latest case that raises concerns about the extent of the contamination, Malaysian health authorities Thursday banned the import of the baking agent ammonium bicarbonate from China, saying it contained high levels of melamine discovered in locally produced biscuits.

Melamine, a chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers, can cause kidney stones as the body tries to eliminate it and, in extreme cases, lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Infants are particularly susceptible.

Milk and other dairy products laced with melamine have been blamed for the deaths of four infants and for sickening more than 54,000 in mainland China.