October 16, 2013

French company Danone, which markets its infant formula under the brand Dumex, gave bribes to thirteen medical workers in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

It was reported in September that Danone gave kickbacks to medical staff in Tianjin Central Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to feed new born babies its infant formula products, so the babies would develop a taste for the product.

The Tianjin Health Bureau, together with local government and police, promised to investigate the scandal after it emerged. According to the investigation results published by the local government, 116 people from 85 hospitals and health organisations have taken commercial bribes from Danone to give lectures to the parents of new-borns, introduce and recommend Dumex milk powder, and give free product samples.

Thirteen serious violators were punished including cancellation of medical licenses and deduction of salaries while six authorities from the medical departments of both municipal and district levels have received administrative sanctions of warnings or even records of demerit.

According to the government statement, all the bribes taken by the 116 people have been collected.

On September 17, after the secret deals were reported, the National Health and Family Planning Commission told hospitals to strictly abide by the law governing breast milk substitutes.