Police in the Chinese province at the centre of a scandal over tainted milk powder have detained 22 people suspected of involvement in introducing the chemical melamine into the supply chain, state media said today.
Thousands of children have been hospitalised with kidney illnesses, and four have died after drinking milk formula tainted with the chemical, causing public outrage.
Authorities in northern Hebei province held the people after raids on dozens of dairy farms and milk purchasing stations during which they seized more than 220 kg (485 pounds) of the cheap industrial chemical, the China Dailysaid.
It cited police as saying 19 of the detainees were managers at dairy pastures, breeding farms and milk purchasing stations.
"According to the police investigation, melamine was produced in underground plants and then sold to breeding farms and purchasing stations," the newspaper said.
A man was suspected of producing a "protein powder" containing melamine, which can be used to cheat quality checks, and another is thought to have sold the tainted powder on to the milk purchasing stations, the paper said.
Officials have begun a month-long overhaul of the country's milk collection system aimed at weeding out deficiencies in oversight, the China Dailyadded.
Chinese President Hu Jintao publicly lectured a dairy executive on the importance of food safety today, leading a media campaign to show the government's resolve in the milk powder scandal.
On the main evening television news broadcast, Mr Hu was shown visiting a dairy farm in the eastern province of Anhui.
"Food safety is a matter of the health of the people," Mr Hu told the head of the local dairy company that owned the farm, shaking his finger.
"Of course, it's also an issue of companies' survival. You have to learn the lesson from Sanlu's experience, and improve your management to ensure that all products that reach the market are up to the standards," Mr Hu said, referring to Sanlu Group, the Chinese dairy firm whose products caused many of the illnesses.
Other officials also took to the airwaves to reassure consumers and express their concern.
Wang Jianguo, spokesman for the municipal government of Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, issued an apology for the city's handling of the case.
"As the local government, we have an irrevocable responsibility for this matter. We feel deep regret and sorrow about it.
"We express our deep apologies towards the infants who have fallen ill, as well as their parents," Mr Wang told state TV.
Reuters