Tainted Milk Lawsuit Planned

The Associated Press reports that lawyers for dozens of families whose children were sickened by tainted milk have decided to go ahead with a class-action lawsuit against state-owned Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group Co., the dairy at the center of China’s worst food safety crisis in years. These 15 rs are hoping to pressure Chinese authorities still dithering over compensation. The lawsuit seeks medical and other expenses, payments for trauma and compensation for the families of those who died.

On Thursday, U.S. food safety officials said dozens of imported foods from China made with milk will be held at ports until tests show they are free of the industrial chemical at the center of the scandal.

The melamine contamination was first reported in September. More than 54,000 children, mostly infants, fell sick and at least three died by official count from drinking tainted infant formula, powdered milk and dairy products. Melamine was believed to have been added to artificially boost nitrogen levels, making products seem higher in protein when tested.