Canadians warned about infant formula

OTTAWA, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Canadians were being reminded to avoid purchasing or using infant formula originating from China.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada said that while Chinese-manufactured infant formula isn't approved for sale in Canada, it's possible it might have been illegally imported and placed on sale in some stores that carry ethnic foods.

"The Canadian government has become aware that melamine, a toxic substance when consumed, has been detected in infant formula which may have been exported illegally from China," the CFIA said. "Several illnesses in infants in China, and at least one death, have been linked to the consumption of this product. To date, no infant formulas contaminated with melamine have been found in Canada and, in fact, no formulas produced in China are approved for sale in Canada."

Health Canada officials said they contacted the four major manufacturers of infant formula sold in Canada -- Abbott Nutritionals, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle Canada and PBM Nutritionals -- and all four confirmed that they don't use milk ingredients sourced from China.