Last year, the toxic dairy products caused at least six deaths and nearly 300,000.
These are your questions and answers about the scandal
WHAT IS MELAMINE?
It is a white powder that is used in plastic-making. In the 1830s, a German scientist was the first to synthesize it.
What is it used for?
Melamine resin is the most commonly used form of formaldehyde. It is a mixture of formaldehyde and melamine that is used to make formica, floor tiles and whiteboards, as well as kitchenware.
WHY ADD MELAMINE to MILK POWDER
Melamine is a good source of nitrogen and it's relatively inexpensive. The milk's protein content will appear higher if it is added to milk that has been diluted or not as well. Standard quality tests measure nitrogen content to determine protein levels.
Who WAS AFFECTED DURING THE TOXIC MILK DRUG ACCIDENT?
China: At least six infants were killed and 300,000 more were admitted to hospital after they drank the contaminated milk.
-- Children under 2 years of age were responsible for more than 80 percent. Babies that rely solely on milk are most at risk.
Who ADDED THE MELAMINE ABOUT THE MILK?
Initial investigations revealed that the principal culprits were unscrupulous middlemen who worked at "milk stations", which sold milk from farms to dairy businesses.
WHERE CAN I BUY TAINTED MILK IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
-- More than 20 countries and regions, mostly African and Asian -- Bangladesh, Bhutan and Britain, Brunei and Burundi. Canada, China. France. Gabon. Ghana. India. Japan. Malaysia. Myanmar. Singapore. South Korea. Taiwan. Tanzania. Togo. Yemen.
WHO COMPANIES WERE IMPLICATED
22 Chinese companies were identified as selling tainted milk products. Sanlu Group, China’s largest seller of infant formula, was the first to be publicly exposed for melamine contamination.
Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, a New Zealand dairy export company, has a 43 per cent share in Sanlu. However, it has completely written off its NZ$201million ($107.1 million), investment in the Chinese firm.
