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Tainted Milk Powder Scandal: Health Ministry National Internal Teleconference Reveals Top Secret
By Translated by chinafreepress.org
Sep 21, 2008 - 11:02:23 AM

http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/09/200809202358.shtml

Tainted Milk Powder Scandal: Health Ministry National Internal Teleconference Reveals Top Secret

According to a boxun.com report, on Friday September 19 the Ministry of Health held a national internal teleconference. Every region's large hospital section chiefs and other concerned important officials participated. According to informed sources, this was the second time this month this type of conference was held.

The teleconference revealed the true circumstances behind the tainted milk powder scandal. Milk powder factories have been illegally adding melamine in order to increase the protein level measurement of their milk. The teleconference revealed many photographs of large volumes of melamine stockpiled in milk powder factory warehouses. The primary problem in the Sanlu Dairy Corporation scandal is that the volume of melamine was not properly measured, and too much of the toxic substance was added, leading to the present problems.

It is reported that Sanlu's supplier surreptitiously added the toxic substance, and that Sanlu was unaware of this. Because the quantity was not properly calibrated, the toxic response was immediate. According to the internal teleconference, it was revealed that this problem is not isolated to Sanlu's supplier, and that the problem has spread industry-wide. But the central authorities want to lay the blame exclusively on the suppliers, so as to avoid bringing the reputation of the whole industry into question. This is how official media is spinning the story and public opinion, in order to reduce the scope of the problem and protect the industry as a whole and thereby their own responsibility for lax regulation.

The most recent tests by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has revealed that fully 20 percent of milk powder products are tainted. It is worth questioning whether under the present circumstances of higher authorities wanting to protect the reputation of the industry as a whole, testing results can be fully trusted.

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