A chemical that has contaminated batches of baby formula and killed at least three babies on the mainland has also been found in milk from three of the nation's major dairy companies, the state quality watchdog said.
Twenty-four batches of milk produced by Mengniu, Yili and Guangming were found to contain traces of melamine in the latest check, CCTV cited the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as saying.
The mainland's quality watchdog ordered the manufacturers to immediately recall all tainted products, demanded stringent testing on raw materials and products and the imposition of tough punishments on those behind the use of melamine, a chemical for industrial use, the report said.
The announcement by state television last night came hours after Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety warned the public not to consume Yili dairy products because melamine had been found in eight of its products - including ice lollies and milk drinks with melamine levels between 2.2 and 21 parts per million.
As the milk contamination scandal escalated, the World Health Organisation yesterday called on China to find out why it took months for the scandal to become public.
The nationwide inspection of milk was sparked by the discovery this week that product samples from 22 companies that make milk powder were contaminated with melamine, which so far has killed at least three babies and left over 6,200 ill, with some developing acute kidney failure.
In the latest check, the mainland quality watchdog examined milk samples from major milk suppliers - such as Mengniu, Yili, Guangming, Sanyuan and Nestle - which together make up over 70 per cent of the market share.
