Toxic chemicals found in rice powder for babies

Toxic chemicals that could cause cancer have been found in a rice-based food for babies tested in south China's Guangzhou, the city's industry and commerce authority said yesterday.

Two types of Yayinle rice powder were found to contain aflatoxins, toxic elements that are carcinogenic.

One type of Yayinle powder is said to promote healthy bones while the other claims to be good for brain development.

The two powders were among nine batches of dairy products and products which contain milk which failed an inspection carried out earlier this year, officials said.

The products that failed were found to contain aflatoxins, microorganisms or antiseptics during a city-wide campaign.

Cakes and biscuits containing harmful materials were also found during the campaign.

All substandard products have been removed from sale and sealed for further investigation.

Food safety officials in Shanghai are checking the availability of Yayinle rice but, so far, none has been found in the local market.

Previously, Zhou Bohua, director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce said that a lack of administration and supervision over the dairy industry was to blame for past food safety incidents, including the 2008 melamine in baby formula scandal that led to the deaths of at least six babies and sickened 300,000 others.

The government has said it will issue a specific regulation on baby formula in the near future in a bid to guarantee food safety.

The new regulation will target the entire chain, from production to market.

In one of the measures, baby formula will be sold at pharmacies on a trial basis and substandard foreign milk powder will be banned from the domestic market when the new regulations take effect.

Selling baby formula through drug stores can better guarantee product quality because it will be more strictly managed, said Teng Jiacai, deputy director of the State Food and Drug Administration.

The practice will be introduced on a trial basis and cans of baby formula that are due to expire within 30 days should be taken off the shelves or marked with a warning, he said.

A slew of stricter supervisory measures will be adopted to ensure the proper conduct of farmers, milk powder producers and sales staff, ensuring people's access to safe milk powder products, Zhou said.