February 12, 2009

China's national quality watchdog said on Wednesday (Feb 11) it was investigating the safety of dairy products made by two companies.

China has launched a crackdown on tainted food following the deaths of at least six babies last year from drinking infant formula contaminated with melamine, a toxic industrial compound that can give a false positive on protein tests.

The government is currently probing China's top milk producer Mengniu Dairy, and Dumex, a unit of France's Danone.

Mengniu was under investigation for the use of an additive called osteoblast milk protein, or OMP, in one of the firm's premium milk brands to make sure the product was safe.

OMP helps with the absorption of calcium and promotes bone growth. It is commonly used in other countries under the name "Milk Basic Protein" or MBP, Mengniu said, adding it had done nothing wrong.

The company added that the raw ingredients for the OMP had been imported from New Zealand's TATUA Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd and had passed customs' inspections.

Mengniu was among several firms in China found to have produced melamine-contaminated milk last year.

The watchdog was also inspecting the quality and safety of milk powder made by Dumex.

The "Made-in-China" brand has been devastated by a string of food safety failures, including last year's melamine incident.

China is currently involved in a comprehensive clean-up on the use of food additives, the watchdog said.

Both firms insisted there were no problems and that their goods were safe. It was not clear if Mengniu had been ordered to stop adding OMP.