WHO warns of more deaths in China milk crisis

BEIJING -- The World Health Organization warned Friday more deaths could still occur from China's toxic milk scandal that has already killed four infants and sickened another 53,000.

The comments came as one of the country's best known candy brands was pulled from shelves in China after its products were found to contain the industrial chemical melamine at the centre of the scandal.

"There could be more deaths detected but we don't believe it will be a high number," Hans Troedsson, WHO representative in China, told reporters.

"Clearly, if there is not another unknown development that we are not aware of, we will continue to see some recalls. I think we will still see some more cases, but maybe not the high number we have seen so far."

Troedsson said he expected some more recalls of products to occur along with cases of sickened infants. "I think we will still see some more cases, but maybe not the high number we have seen so far," he said.

According to the most recent data published by China, the contaminated baby milk has sickened 53,000 Chinese children and killed four.

Makers of the much-loved White Rabbit candy announced Friday they had halted domestic sales after its products were found to contain melamine.

The European Union also joined a growing list of nations and regions to ban or restrict imports of milk products from China, leaving Asia's biggest exporter facing one of the greatest challenges ever to its reputation.

However Troedsson also struck a reassuring note, saying the government appeared to be acting appropriately since going public with the scandal.

"From what we know, the Chinese central government and Ministry of Health have acted appropriately since early September when the central government went public with this issue," he said.

The WHO also urged consumers against barring infant formula altogether, saying not all brands were contaminated by melamine, which is normally used to make fertilizers and plastics and is toxic when consumed at high levels.

"It is also critical to ensure that there is an adequate supply of safe infant formula to meet the needs of infants who are not breastfed," said Jorgen Schlundt, director of the WHO's food safety department.

"That's why it is very important that we don't just say all powdered infant formula is really dangerous, because it is not."

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080926-163086/WHO-warns-of-more-deaths-in-China-milk-crisis