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Chinese dairy closed again over tainted milk: state media

Ammonia-treated U.S. beef questioned
Dakota Dunes, S.D. (UPI) Dec 31, 2009 - E.coli and salmonella pathogens were found dozens of times in school hamburgers processed by a company exempt from routine testing, a U.S. safety agency says. The Beef Products Inc. meat, injected with ammonia in a novel method to destroy toxic bacteria, was caught before reaching lunchroom trays, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The department, responsible for assuring food safety, has now revoked Beef Products' exemption from routine testing and is reviewing the company's operations, The New York Times reported Thursday. The agency is also reviewing the company's research supporting its ammonia-injection claims. Since 2005, E.coli was found three times and salmonella 48 times in meat headed for the federal school lunch program, including incidents in August in which two 27,000-pound contaminated batches were found, government and industry records obtained by the Times show. Besides the lunch program, the meat is used by McDonald's, Burger King and other fast-food giants as well as grocery chains. Beef Products of Dakota Dunes, S.D.- which persuaded federal officials to classify ammonia as a "processing agent" and not an ingredient that would be listed on labels- said in a statement it was committed to hamburger safety, but "like any responsible member of the meat industry, we are not perfect."
by Staff Writers
 Beijing (AFP) Jan 1, 2010
 A Chinese dairy shut down during the 2008 tainted milk scandal has been closed again after tests found some of its products contained the same toxic chemical, state media reported Friday.

Shanghai Panda Dairy was shuttered and three executives arrested Thursday after an investigation found eight batches of its powdered milk and condensed milk had "illegally high" levels of melamine, the Shanghai Daily said.

Panda Dairy was put on a "black list" during the 2008 scandal after its products were found to have the second-highest levels of melamine in the nation, the report said. The now bankrupt Sanlu Group had the highest.

Authorities allowed Panda Dairy to resume production after it promised to "lift its game".

But the latest investigation revealed the dairy had reused contaminated condensed milk that was recalled from the market and also used "suspect raw material" for its milk powder, the report said.

Melamine, an industrial chemical, is added to milk products to give the appearance of a higher protein content.

In 2008, at least six infants died and nearly 300,000 were made sick by milk powder contaminated by melamine.

Altogether 21 people have been convicted for their roles in that scandal. Two have been executed and former Sanlu boss Tian Wenhua was given life in prison.

One other person was given a suspended death sentence, a punishment that is routinely commuted to life imprisonment, while 15 others were jailed for two to 15 years.

Sanlu, once one of China's largest dairy manufacturers, was declared bankrupt in February 2009 after having amassed 1.1 billion yuan (161 million dollars) of debt, Xinhua reported at the time.


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