Aflatoxin Detected in Chinese Infant Formulas

GUANGZHOU, ChinaChinas food-safety reform suffered yet another setback this week after authorities in Guangzhou discovered excessive amounts of aflatoxin in some infant formula products, reported the state-run Xinhua news agency. Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that commonly grows on crops such as grains and peanuts, and high levels of the toxin may lead to cancer in some animals.

The mildew contamination was detected in five formula products produced between July and December 2011 in Central China's Hunan province. Four of the products were produced by Ava Dairy Co Ltd. Ava Dairy based in Hunan's capital of Changsha, while the fifth was produced by Hunan Ava Dairy Holdings Co Ltd., the parent company of Ava Dairy. Authorities have ordered retailers to stop selling the formulas until the investigation is concluded.

In December 2011, high doses of aflatoxin were found in dairy products from the popular Mengniu Dairy Group. An initial investigation revealed the contamination was caused by mildewed feed given to cows in the dairy's plant in southwest Sichuan province. The toxin also was found in milk from a smaller companythe Changfu Dairy Industry Groupin Fujian Province.