By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer
The lawsuit against Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group Co. was filed over the May 1 death of 6-month-old Yi Kaixuan in the northwestern city of
Milk collection stations and individual farmers are accused of watering down milk to increase volume, then adding the industrial chemical melamine to increase protein levels. Melamine, used mainly in plastics and fertilizer, is high in nitrogen and can make milk appear to contain more protein, which is what quality tests measure. The practice has been blamed for causing the deaths of four infants and sickening 54,000 others, with 10,000 still hospitalized.
Speaking on a television talk show late Sunday, the president of Bright Dairy said his company, one of the largest in the Chinese dairy industry, had been "too nice" toward milk collection stations that bought milk from farmers. Large dairy companies typically buy raw milk gathered from small farmers at milking stations and collection centers, often by subcontractors responsible for safety testing. Safeguards were often lax and major milk producers have been criticized for not carrying out adequate testing.
The comments appeared aimed at restoring consumer confidence in the wake of the scandal that has dinged the reputation of some of
"We thought they were operating in good conscience," Guo Benheng said on state television's economics channel. "I'd say we made an innocent mistake, although an innocent mistake is still a mistake. We are definitely making corrections," Guo said, according to a transcript of his remarks posted on official Web sites Monday. Appearing on the same show, the vice president of Mengniu Dairy, one of the country's largest, said the scandal had affected the company profoundly.
"This sort of thing just tears your heart apart," Zhao Yuanhua said. The Yi family's lawyer, Dong Junming, said he turned the lawsuit in at
At least two other lawsuits have been filed against Sanlu — the company at the center of the uproar — in recent weeks by parents of children suffering from kidney stones. It is not clear if courts will allow these suits to progress. Product liability lawsuits are still relatively rare in
The scandal has struck a blow to
Sanlu is 43 percent owned by
Associated Press writer Cara Anna contributed to this report from