China arrests 27 in tainted milk scandal

Beijing: Chinese police have arrested 27 people in connection with the tainted milk that has left thousands of children sick in the country, state media reported on Tuesday.

The 27 are among 36 detained since authorities began investigating Sanlu Group, the company at the centre of the scandal, earlier this month.

The investigation followed the discovery that the industrial chemical melamine, which is normally used to make plastics, had been added to Sanlu powdered milk.

The Xinhua news agency had reported 22 detentions by Monday, and said those arrested were involved in a network that made and sold melamine and added it to milk.

Four children so far have died after drinking milk tainted with melamine, and 56,000 reported to have fallen ill.

More than a dozen Asian and African countries, including the European Union, have taken steps to ban or limit consumption of products containing Chinese dairy.