There's milk and then there's milk with kidney stones

The dairy giant Sanlu was exposed this week because of their tainted milk powder that contained melamine. Already more than 6,200 infants developed kidney stones after drinking Sanlu's tainted baby formula and there has been 4 confirmed deaths. The melamine can make the protein level in dairy products appear higher than it really is and is commonly found in pesticides. 13 babies died in 2004 also because of tainted milk powder and officials estimate that 20% of dairy companies tested in China have found products tainted with melamine. The New York Times also reported in 2007 that Chinese fish and livestock were being injected with a "melamine scrap" to give a false appearance of higher protein. So this newest milk contamination should really not come as any suprise. In fact, the China Daily reported that many companies, one of them being Sanlu, were able to apply for inspection exemptions because inspections take "too long" and are too burdensome to test everyone. Unfortunately, there are at least 6000 parents wishing this morning that the extra "time" and "burden" was taken.