January 13, 2012

China's commerce regulators are investigating dairy company Synutra International, after a baby died from allegedly drinking its milk formula, news agency Xinhua reported Thursday (Jan 12).

Commerce authorities in east China are investigating the firm, after it was reported that a baby in the rural Jiangxi province suffered from diarrhoea and uncontrollable shaking after drinking milk formula by Synutra.

The baby boy died late last Saturday in a paediatric hospital, Xinhua reported.

Authorities have sealed the batch of Synutra products in the county of Duchang, where the case was reported, and sent samples for testing, officials with the county's bureau of industry and commerce said.

Synutra said in a statement on Thursday that the firm believed the infant's death was not related to its products and that it was confident its products were safe.

The firm added it did not know what caused the baby's death and that milk powder does not usually cause convulsions or diarrhea.