February 12, 2009
China’s quality supervisor recently barred Mengniu, a major dairy manufacturer, from putting an additive called OMP (Osteoblasts Milk Protein) into one of its products.
The company, which has been marketing the concept that the OMP in its high-end “Deluxe” milk has the effect of improving the human body’s absorption of calcium, responded on its website with a statement claiming, “OMP is safe and FDA-approved.”
In the statement, Mengniu denied the charge that the OMP is in fact IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor 1), a human hormone that plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults.
Fang Zhouzi, a science writer who crusades against fraud, first raised questions about OMP in 2007. Fang believes that OMP is IGF-1 and said in an interview with the Xinmin Online that the government should “investigate the carcinogenic effects of OMP, and whether milk contains the advertised amount of OMP.” IGF-1 isn’t cheap, so in Fang’s view, Mengniu is either poisoning its customers by adding OMP, or cutting costs and claiming that its milk has the benefits of added OMP without actually using the additive.
Dumex, another dairy brand, is also facing safety questions. Xinhua reports:
The Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision said Wednesday it was investigating whether Dumex, the powdered-milk unit of France’s Danone Group, had produced milk powder contaminated with melamine.
The article refers to reports in “overseas media” about 48 Chinese infants who allegedly suffered kidney illnesses after drinking Dumex milk powder.
- Xinhua: Chinese quality watchdog investigates whether Dumex milk powder contaminated
- Mengniu (Chinese): Mengniu’s response to OMP issue
- Xinmin.cn (Chinese): Fang Zhouzi: OMP in Deluxe increases the risk of contracting cancer; government should investigate
- Shenyang Evening News (Chinese): Deluxe is still on the shelf