Police smashed a food factory in Chaozhou City, Guangdong province believed to be producing and selling milk candies tainted with melamine, the same industrial chemical held responsible for six infant deaths and the hospitalization of 300,000 more in 2008. Yang, the factory operator was arrested, Apple Daily reports.
Police seized 12.05 tons of manufactured products and 13.5 tons of semi-manufactured products in the operation. They found the candies had been distributed widely in China, and 12 provinces are currently under investigation as authorities aim to crumble the criminal network.
Melamine is a poisonous chemical added into milk powder which can lead to kidney stones in infants. A massive food scandal broke out in China back in 2008 when it was discovered that the substance had been added to baby formula to make it appear to have a higher protein content.
By Christy Lau
[Image via Apple Daily]