Melamine, which is high in nitrogen, can cause kidney stones and other organ problems. The chemical was added to raw milk to make its protein content appear higher.

 

The Xinhua news agency reported that Sanlu’s former chairwoman Tian Wenhua was sentenced to life in prison by the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People’s Court. Sanlu was the company that distributed the tainted milk that had sickened hundreds of thousands of children. Tian Wenhua pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to act properly in the case.

 

Sanlu was also fined about 50 million yuan ($7.3 million) today by the court over its role in distributing tainted milk.

Following the tainted milk scare countries and regions including the U.S., the Philippines and the EU restricted or banned imports of Chinese products containing milk or milk powder.

 

Earlier this month, one man who had made and sold over 600 tonnes of “protein powder” laced with melamine was sentenced to death. The protein powder was bought by middlemen who added it to milk from farmers than was then bought by Sanlu.  

The Sanlu group was jointly owned by the Fonterra Group of New Zeeland.