China suggests long milk coverup

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The Sanlu Group, one of the largest Chinese dairy companies, received complaints about its baby formula in December, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The information was in a government report released to the Xinhua. It suggests that Sanlu tried to cover up contamination problems for months, The New York Times said.

More than 53,000 Chinese infants have reportedly been sickened by formula contaminated with melamine and at least four have died. Melamine is normally used in plastic manufacture but has also been added to watered-down milk products to boost protein levels.

Sanlu began a recall in September. The Fonterra Group, a New Zealand company that owns 43 percent of Sanlu, has said that it pushed for a recall in August but was turned down by local officials in Hebei Province as well as its Chinese partner.

Previous official reports have said that consumers first complained to Sanlu about its baby formula in June.