China searches for 100 tonnes of melamine-tainted milk (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

China has seized 72 tonnes of milk powder believed to be tainted with melamine and is searching for another 100 tonnes, state media has reported.

The powder is thought to be from a batch recalled after it killed six children in 2008 and made 300,000 ill.

Two dairies were shut down at the weekend after they were found to be selling products using the powder, which should have been destroyed.

The melamine had been added to milk to artificially boost protein levels.

China Daily said the Ningxia Tiantian dairy was shut down on Saturday after it was found to have processed and repackaged 170 tonnes of milk powder in its products.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8503576.stm

Scary. Apparently, smaller companies cannot afford to test their ingredients, so they just hold it in storage until the furor dies down -- then use it without testing.

Adding melamine does not boost protein levels, it boosts nitrogen levels. For reasons which escape me, analysis of nitrogen ALONE is considered an adequate measurement of protein content. This test needs to be replaced, as it invites exactly the sort of scam that occurred.

ETA: This story broke earlier, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8478195.stm

[aquart]

1. Oh, goody.

Clearly, they have to offer a bounty to return the tainted product.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. That sounds like a good idea.

ETA "Good" in the sense that it might help. Sad that it should ever be necessary.