After milk powder containing the toxic chemical melamine was discovered in three provinces, Chinese officials located a dairy selling sealed packets of milk powder with 500 times the legal melamine limit and removed their supplies to protect public health. Melamine is added to diluted milk to make the milk appear more rich in protein for quality tests; however, its presence in milk batches in 2008 led to the deaths of six babies and sickened thousands more. The recent investigation has thus far revealed tainted milk powder in Shanghai as well as four other provinces.

We thank the Chinese officials for your quick actions to protect the lives and health of especially the vulnerable children. May all people turn towards safer, more humane alternatives such as the plentiful plant-based options, to ensure the vitality of our precious young.