More tainted milk products found in China shops

Melamine-laced milk products have been found on sale in China, state media said on Monday, more than a year after the chemical was blamed for six deaths in a huge scandal over contaminated dairy goods.

Three Chinese companies have been found selling food products tainted with melamine, the chemical blamed for the deaths of six babies in a huge dairy scandal in 2008, state media said Monday.

Authorities in the southwestern province of Guizhou found that products made by three food companies contained illegally high levels of the toxic substance, the China Daily said.

It quoted a former dairy industry official as saying it was likely more tainted goods remained in supermarkets despite a major recall after the 2008 scandal, which highlighted China's persistent product safety problems.

The suspect products in Guizhou have been pulled from stores, the China Daily said, adding that the firms involved blamed milk powder bought from suppliers.

The report illustrated the apparent continued threat from tainted dairy goods long after the 2008 scandal when it was revealed that the industrial chemical -- which can, in large quantities, cause kidney failure and death -- was being abused by food producers.

At that time, melamine was found to have been added to milk to give the appearance of a higher protein content and was blamed for killing six infants and making nearly 300,000 others sick, according to official figures.

The scare led to foodstuffs containing dairy products being taken off shelves around the world. A total of 21 people were reportedly convicted of wrongdoing, with two executed and others sentenced to jail terms.

But other cases have since surfaced.

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