Authorities in a county in Central Hunan province have launched an investigation after several children reportedly developed "big-head" disease and rickets after eating a protein solid drink, which was sold as milk powder at a local maternal and child store, Global Times reports.
The local government said that hospitals nor doctors have not been found to be involved, The Beijing News reported.
Five parents in Yongxing county, Chenzhou, recently found their children to be suffering from eczema, severe weight loss, a skull deformity resembling "big head" and a number of other unusual diseases, the Hunan Economic TV reported on Monday.
The children had all used a "special medical milk powder" purchased at a local maternal and child store after being diagnosed with a milk allergy and doctors recommended that they use amino acid milk powder, according to reports.
The salesperson who sold the "milk powder" to the parents at the shop claimed that the product is the best-selling "milk powder" for children with the allergy.
The manufacturer of the product told media that the company had stopped its production in mid-2019 and the solid drink meets national standards and is suitable for all kinds of people, reported The Beijing News.
The company also said it is not clear why the product was sold at maternal and child stores to children with milk allergies.
All of the 47 solid drinks procured by the stores in question have been sold to customers.
Local government said the hospitals would provide free full physical examinations for children who have used the products. Those who fell sick will be treated under guidance from nutrition experts.
The news sparked a wave of criticism on social media and drew strong emotions among Chinese netizens who recalled the Sanlu infant milk scandal in 2008, which took the lives of six infants and sickened some 300,000 babies.
Netizens called for a thorough investigation into the case and tougher management over the formula industry.
The case was not isolated to Chenzhou.
In March 30, a joint letter was released by several parents in Chenzhou whose kids developed "big-head" disease after using another special medical "milk powder" that doctors had recommended for children allergic to milk.
The doctor in question was later found to have been working with a maternal and child store to promote the product to the patients, which actually is also a solid drink.
After using the "milk" as the only food source for a long time, the children suffered malnutrition, viscera injury of different degrees and a developmental delay in height, intelligence and mobility.
