Chinese government officials are investigating reports that medical tests found excessive hormone levels in four young girls who consumed infant formula made by Synutra International. Synutra says the milk powder came from New Zealand’s Fonterra. Fonterra says they do supply Synutra but notes growth hormone use is not allowed in New Zealand dairy cows and contends their products are safe. They charge the Chinese company also gets product from local suppliers and Europe. A Synutra spokesman says they tested the product and found it safe.
The state-run Xinhua news agency reports a the deputy-head of the endocrine department at a local children’s hospital says three of the four infants never used Synutra baby formula while the fourth child had stopped using it last year.
China is still trying to clean up the melamine contamination scandal which made 300,000 sick and killed six children in 2008. Even though a strict ban has been put in place and harsh punishments handed out, melamine-contaminated product has popped-up at least twice in the past year in China.
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