In the early summer of 2008, months before the world would watch as China hosted the Beijing Olympic Games, a series of illnesses among babies started to concern Chinese doctors and parents.
Infants were diagnosed with developed kidney stones after using Sanlu milk powder, a popular cheap product on the market.
By August, just as the Games came to a close, the company realized that the source of the illnesses was an organic compound known as melamine. The compound was used to boost the formula to make it appear to be more nutrient-rich.
Recalls Issued and Government Response
At the urging of foreign investors, the central government was finally notified in September of the contamination and a massive recall of products is issued by Sanlu. By the start of October, nearly 50,000 people fell ill and four infant deaths were reported as a result of the contamination. Some media outlets have reported that as many as 94,000 Chinese have been affected.
Once notified, Chinese health officials began a comprehensive inspection of over 100 baby milk powder makers and found that 22 companies had traces of melamine in the products. The compound was later found in a number of other products, including liquid milk and eggs. The egg contamination is the latest chapter of this story, as melamine was found in hen feed in October. Inspectors are also currently testing fish for the compound.
As a result of the scandal, Li Changjiang, the director of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine resigned from his post. He was replaced by Wang Yong, 53, deputy secretary-general of the State Council, China's cabinet.
So far, 18 people have been arrested. The government also fired Wu Xianguo, as secretary of the Shijiazhuang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China. Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province, is the headquarters the Sanlu Company. The company first notified city officials of the contamination, but they then waited a month before notifying the central government.
Also fired was Ji Chuntang, the Shijizhuang mayor. Ji was also removed from his position as vice-secretary of the municipal committee of Chinese Communist Party.
Four local Shijiazhuang officials were also fired: Zhang Fawang, vice mayor in charge of agricultural production; Sun Renhu, head of the animal husbandry and fishery bureau; Zhang Yi, the director of food and drug administration; and Li Zhiguo, the head of the quality supervision bureau.
Worldwide Fallout
As a result of such a public scandal, China's health and trade officials face an uphill public relations battle. The World Health Organization has called the scandal one of the largest food safety events it has had to deal with. The United Nations has issued a report urging China to better educate and train food industry officials and government enforcement agencies. Several countries have stopped all imports of Chinese dairy products.
China has fought back by issuing new dairy safety standards limiting the amount of melamine in products to one milligram of melamine per kilogram for infant formula, 2.5 milligrams per kilogram for liquid milk, milk powder and food products containing at least 15 percent milk. However the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that no amount of melamine is safe in baby formula. The government has said that no melamine has been found in dairy products since stricter quality standards were put in place.
In October it was reported that nine families have individually sued Sanlu for the contamination that harmed their children. The lawsuits could test the limits of the state-controlled government. So far no judge has agreed to hear such cases.
