Synutra International, the Chinese dairy, made the statement after the government ordered a probe into accusations that babies had developed breasts after consuming milk powder sold by it.
Hormonal levels in at least three babies in Hubei province and one in Beijing have risen to the levels of adult women after consuming the milk products, sources said. The Chinese health ministry on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the allegations.
Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy giant, admitted it supplied milk powder to Synutra, but insisted there was nothing wrong about its products. "Fonterra is a supplier of milk powder to Synutra International but we understand Synutra sources some milk locally and imports whey powder from Europe," it said in a statement.
"Fonterra remains 100 percent confident about the quality of its products,” it said after Synutra said it was merely distributing milk powder bought from New Zealand.
This is the second time Fonterra has come under the radar since the 2008 milk scandal involving 22 Chinese dairies, some of whom had bought milk products from it. Though Synutra has not indulged in finger pointing, it is clear that Fonterra is anxious about the disclosure that it has been selling milk products to the Chinese dairy.
Syuntra chairman Liang Zhang recently said that the claims about babies growing breasts were “highly irresponsible and based on speculation instead of scientific evidence”. He threatened to take legal action against those damaging the reputation of the company, while saying that its products were totally reliable and safe.
Fonterra said there were strict legislative controls in New Zealand and the use of Hormonal Growth Promotants is not allowed to be used on milking cows.
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