Three batches of milk powder from Taiwan Weichuan Foods Company tested positive for E. sakazakii, a pathogen causing disease in people with weakened immune systems, the national quality watchdog said Sunday.

According to a list released on its official website, about 9.624 tons of baby milk formula from Taiwan were found with the pathogen when it came into the mainland through Hong Kong on Oct 17 last year.

All the tainted milk formula was destroyed in Hong Kong, 163.com quoted the spokesman of the company as saying yesterday.

He said the three batches of milk formula have independent formulation, so other milk products from the company are safe for customers, the website reported Monday.

The company will give further explanation on television soon, he told the website.

E. sakazakii is a rare but potential fatal and invasive pathogen among infants younger than 12 months old, which can cause bloodstream and central nervous system infections.

A 2007 investigation by the World Health Organization said mortality rates from E. sakazakii infection have been as high as 50 percent or more for infants.

In the Sanlu milk scandal last year, more than 294,000 infants suffered kidney problems and at least six babies died, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

Tian Wenhua, the former chairwoman and general manager of the Sanlu group, was sentenced to life in prison on Jan 22.

More than 2,000 netizens expressed their worry about food safety on 163.com after the latest disclosure.

A netizen from Heilongjiang province wrote that the government should pay more attention to food quality, especially to baby food.

A netizen from Shandong province asked the government to publish a list of safe milk products for infants.

According to the list of unqualified products, about 852 batches of imported food and cosmetics tested unqualified, including milk powder from Taiwan and Australia.

(China Daily February 3, 2009)