January 5, 2009
China dairy firms apologise for milk scandal
Sanlu and 21 other Chinese dairy companies involved in a scandal over melamine-tainted milk sent apologies to the public by cellular phone text message, the official Xinhua news agency reported Friday (January 2).
"We are deeply sorry for the harm we have brought to children and to the society," the message said, according to the news agency. "We offer our sincere apology and plead for forgiveness."
The message, sent Thursday, also said the companies will compensate sickened children and pay all expenses resulting from negative effects of the contaminated milk, the news agency reported, adding that they have already started a victims' compensation fund.
