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Chinese dairy company 'asked govt to cover-up milk scandal'

01/10/2008

The Chinese dairy company at the centre of a scandal involving contaminated milk powder is alleged to have asked the government for help in covering up the problem.

According to the People's Daily newspaper today, officials at the Sanlu group wrote to the Chinese government asking for assistance in "managing" the situation.

Written days before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the newspaper cites the company as asking: "Please can the government increase control and coordination of the media, to create a good environment for the recall of the company's problem products.

"This is to avoid whipping up the issue and creating a negative influence in society."

Reports allege that the city government in Shijiazhuang deliberately tried to cover up the scandal.

An additional 31 batches of Chinese milk powder were found to have been contaminated with the chemical melamine today.

The contamination has been blamed for the death of four children and kidney illness in 54,000 others. More than 13,000 children are reported to have been hospitalised and 27 people have been arrested.