Beijing: Vowing to hand out "serious punishment" to culprits, China today ordered a nationwide investigation, after an infant milk powder caused rash of Kidney stone cases among toddlers and urged the people not to use the contaminated product.

The Health Ministry has launched a nationwide investigation into the infant kidney stone cases with a domestic milk powder, Sanlu formula, involved and has asked all local health agencies to report all cases immediately, Xinhua reported today. "Those responsible will face serious punishment," a Health ministry Spokesman Mao Qunan was quoted by the agency as saying.

The Ministry, has aslo issued a treatment scheme on its official website www.moh.gov.cn and urged the people to immediately stop consuming the contaminated formula and consult medics if they find babies having difficulty in urinating. The Chinese action came after some countries like US and New Zealand warned their consumers to avoid all infant products from the country.

One baby had died and more than 50 others were reported suffering from kidney stones in northwestern Gansu and other provinces. Investigations showed that most of them had have the Sanlu formula. Sanlu Group Co, China's biggest milk powder producer had ordered the recall of about 700 tonnes of the product, produced before August 6 this year, the agency said adding that the tests have found that the powder produced before the date was tainted with Melamine, a chemical used in Plastic.

Source : PTI