96 arrested in China for selling adulterated milk powder
January 13th, 2011 - 6:51 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, Jan 13 (IANS) Ninety-six people are being held in police custody in China, and are awaiting prosecution for using melamine-tainted milk powder, a government statement said Thursday.The State Council’s Food Safety Commission said the accused were found to have used melamine-tainted milk powder as raw material to produce or sell dairy products, Xinhua reported.
Among them, 17 have been convicted, including two people sentenced to life in prison, the statement added.
Chinese authorities since July 2010 have cracked down on the use of contaminated milk powder. About 2,132 tonnes of melamine-tainted milk powder was seized in the latest crackdown, the statement said.
A total of 26 officials were fired for failing to do their duty.
In July last year, Dongyuan milk powder, produced in western China’s Qinghai province, was found to contain excessive levels of melamine, a toxic chemical used in the manufacture of plastics.
In 2008, melamine-tainted milk powder killed at least six infants and led to 300,000 children falling ill across the country.
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- Six arrested in fresh melamine milk scandal in China - Aug 21, 2010
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- Melamine-tainted dairy product reappears in China - Nov 24, 2010
- China jails 14 people in tainted milk case - Apr 30, 2011
- Melamine tainted milk resurfaces in China - Jul 09, 2010
- 248 Chinese officials arrested over food safety flaws in 2010 - Jan 31, 2011
- Police seize 64 tons of melamine tainted milk from northwest China plant - Jul 09, 2010
- China Destroying Tainted Milk Powder - Jul 12, 2010
- Two executed in China for contaminating milk - Nov 24, 2009
- China bans more milk products tainted with melamine - Jan 25, 2010
- 70 percent Chinese preferred imported milk powder due to safety concerns - Mar 01, 2011
- China recalls over 170 tons of contaminated milk powder in latest crackdown - Feb 08, 2010
- Chemical used in plastics found in Taiwan-made food - Jun 02, 2011
- Chinese Milk Found Tainted With Melamine - Jul 12, 2010
Tags: beijing, chinese authorities, crackdown, dairy products, excessive levels, food safety, government statement, life in prison, milk powder, ninety six, plastics, police custody, prosecution, qinghai province, raw material, safety commission, tonnes, toxic chemical, western china, xinhua