More than 6,200 babies have fallen ill after drinking milk made from contaminated powder, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu has announced.
More than 6,200 babies have fallen ill after drinking formula milk made from contaminated powder, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu has announced.
The figure is five times higher than previously announced.
The figure is five times higher than previously announced.
Mr Chen said a third baby had now died - with the latest fatality occurring in the Zhejiang province of eastern China.
Mr Chen said a third baby had now died - with the latest fatality occurring in the Zhejiang province of eastern China.
Chinese state television reported that the chemical melamine had been found in 22 brands of powder - not one as previously thought.
Twenty-two brands of powder were found to contain the toxic industrial chemical melamine, apparently added to make it appear higher in protein.
Mr Chen said a total of 6,244 infants were now sick, and that the number of those diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158.
Mr Chen said a total of 6,244 infants were now sick, and that the number of those diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158.
The government has called the poisonings a "Level 1" food safety incident and formed an emergency team to grapple with the fallout, Xinhua news agency reported.
Anger on forums
But rising public anger, expressed on China's active internet forums, is prompting reports of a crackdown by the government on reporting of the milk scandal. I'm angry. I'm furious Yang LetongFather
The government has labelled the poisonings a "level one" food safety incident and formed an emergency team to grapple with the fallout.
That anger was reflected outside the headquarters of the company blamed for making the contaminated formula, Sanlu Group, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, where distraught parents gathered on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
It is keen to try to reassure parents that it is in control of what is happening, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing.
Businessman Yang Letong, 34, told the agency his toddler twin daughters had drunk Sanlu products since they were born.
This scandal has undermined confidence in food safety in China and many parents are worried about what they will feed their babies, he adds.
"So what if they give us our money back, you can't give our children their health back," he said.
Rising public anger, expressed on China's active internet forums, is prompting reports of a crackdown by the government on reporting of the scandal.
"I am angry," he said, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm furious."
Four people have so far been arrested, with more expected. Twenty-two others are being questioned.
Arrests
Sanlu has apologised, saying that suppliers who sold the milk had apparently added the chemical.
Normally used in the manufacture of plastics, melamine makes foods appear higher in protein, but has caused kidney stones in babies in several Chinese provinces.
News emerged of the problem only after a New Zealand company, Fonterra, which owns 43% of Sanlu, informed New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who then informed the Beijing government.
Four people have so far been arrested in connection with the scandal, with more expected. Twenty-two others are being questioned.
Vice-health minister Ma Shaowei warned on Monday that as many as 10,000 infants may have drunk the contaminated milk.
Are you in China? Have you been affected by this story? Have you bought Sanlu formula milk in the past?
Are you in China? Have you been affected by this story?
