Melamine found in Chinese eggs
Saturday, 1 November 2008
BEIJING, Oct 31, (BBC): The toxic chemical melamine is probably being routinely added to Chinese animal feed, state media has reported.
Correspondents say the unusually frank reports in several news outlets are an admission that contamination could be widespread throughout the food chain.
The melamine scandal began early in September, when at least four Chinese babies were killed by contaminated milk, and thousands more became ill.
The news led firms across Asia to recall products made from Chinese milk.
The problem widened last weekend when the authorities in Hong Kong reported that melamine had also been detected in Chinese eggs.
Four brands of eggs have since been found to be contaminated, and agriculture officials speculate that the cause was probably melamine-laced feed given to hens.
Melamine is high in nitrogen, and the chemical is added to food products to make them appear to have a higher protein content.
Correspondents say the unusually frank reports in several news outlets are an admission that contamination could be widespread throughout the food chain.
The melamine scandal began early in September, when at least four Chinese babies were killed by contaminated milk, and thousands more became ill.
The news led firms across Asia to recall products made from Chinese milk.
The problem widened last weekend when the authorities in Hong Kong reported that melamine had also been detected in Chinese eggs.
Four brands of eggs have since been found to be contaminated, and agriculture officials speculate that the cause was probably melamine-laced feed given to hens.
Melamine is high in nitrogen, and the chemical is added to food products to make them appear to have a higher protein content.