The Shanghai Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of a tainted milk formula, which has caused the death of one baby and sent dozens of others to hospital in northwest China.

Most of the victims come from rural areas in northwest provinces and there have been no cases reported in Shanghai.

Yesterday the administration issued an immediate recall of the Sanlu-brand milk formula after the Ministry of Health reported finding traces of cyanuramide, a chemical causing kidney stones, in the milk powder.

Inspectors will be sent to local supermarkets, shopping malls and convenience shops to ensure the Sanlu formula is off the shelves.

According to the Oriental Morning Post, from today customers who have purchased the tainted products can claim a refund if they present a receipt.

This year at least 59 kidney-stone cases in infants have been reported in Gansu and other provinces. Investigations showed that most of the babies had drunk Sanlu milk powder.

The Sanlu Group, a leading Chinese dairy producer in Hebei Province, said last night it had found in a quality check that some of its baby-milk-powder products were contaminated by tripolycyanamide.

The Health Ministry urged the public to immediately stop using the product and seek medical help if babies were having difficulty urinating.

(Shanghai Daily September 12, 2008)