Readers of MassTortDefense have been following the issues surrounding the dairy product contamination scandal in China, which we have posted on before.

Two recent developments: The families of 213 children who were sickened by tainted infant formula and milk have now filed a class-action lawsuit with China’s highest court, seeking damages from 22 dairy producers. Class actions are rare in China; this one seeks damages mainly for parents whose children were made ill by melamine-laden dairy products, but who were offered what they saw as inadequate compensation by dairy companies. Under that plan, most received $292, while wrongful death cases were offered $29,200. Plaintiffs assert that the lower amounts were not enough to cover what they paid for doctors, medicines and other expenses.

According to the Chinese Health Ministry, nearly 300,000 children were made ill by tainted milk and at least six died. Melamine was reportedly added to milk products to fool protein-content tests.
In order for the class suit to proceed, the China Supreme Court must first agree to hear the case. Court filings in China must be accepted by the courts before they are considered on the merits.

On the criminal side, media reports are that 12 dairy officials were found guilty of charges related to the melamine issue; 2 were sentenced to death, and the highest ranking official was sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea bargain deal. Prosecutors showed that officials at the companies involved learned of the problem in 2007 but did not recall any products until September, 2008.

In its latest update, FDA notes that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell such products in the United States.  In addition, the FDA -– in conjunction with state and local officials – continues to check Asian markets for food items that are imported from China and that could contain a significant amount of milk or milk proteins.

The FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk or milk-derived ingredients from Chinese sources. FDA has recommended that consumers not consume certain products because of possible contamination with melamine.