The tainted baby milk powder

The tainted baby milk powder producer in Taiwan on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of the milk powder being contaminated during the production process, but it said that pollution may have taken place during transport.

Su Shoubin, general manager of the Wei Chuan Foods Corporation, said the company found no enterobacter sakazakii bacteria during the production process. The bacteria can cause meningitis, the inflammation of brain's protective membranes, developmental problems and even death.

"The milk powder might have been contaminated during transport," Su said.

"Also we have examined the milk source imported from abroad and the result turned out to be safe," he said.

China's quality watchdog, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), revealed Monday that 9.62 tonnes of bacteria-tainted milk had been recalled after it failed quality tests for containing the enterobacter sakazakii.

For a further investigation to trace the bacteria, the local health bureau of Taiwan, where such a batch of milk powder had been produced, is planning a chemical examination on raw materials including lactose, CP cream powder and milk formula S.

The Taiwan health authority also pledged to modify the milk testing standard.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2009)