03/02/10: China arrests four in new milk scare

On Wednesday, police have arrested four more people in northern China amid a new crackdown on milk products tainted with melamine, the same chemical responsible for six deaths in 2008, state media reported.

The four people were involved in the dairy industry in the city of Weinan in Shaanxi province and will face charges of “manufacturing and selling food that does not meet hygiene standards,” Xinhua news agency said.

Three of the people were officials with Lekang Dairy Co, which authorities had blacklisted over the previous scandal involving melamine-laced milk products, Xinhua said.

The huge scandal was blamed for the deaths of at least six babies. More than 300,000 fell ill, mainly with kidney problems.

The report gave no details of the crimes allegedly committed by the four.

The suspects associated with Lekang Dairy were identified as general manager Zhang Wenxue, and vice general managers Zhu Shuming and Tong Tianhu. The fourth suspect was Ma Shuanglin, a milk powder dealer.

The report came a day after state media said China had launched a new probe into food safety after the discovery that melamine-tainted products had found their way back on to the market despite a huge recall after the 2008 scandal.