Danone baby milk rationed in the UK over China 'export' fear

[Victor]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22066243

"Retailers in the UK are rationing sales of powdered baby milk, because
of a surge in demand for foreign-made baby milk in China."

"Danone, the manufacturer of Aptamil and Cow and Gate baby milk
powder, said most retailers were introducing a limit of two cans per
customer.

It said the limit was to prevent some individuals from bulk-buying baby milk for "unofficial exports"."

"We understand that the increased demand is being fuelled by unofficial
exports to China to satisfy the needs of parents who want Western brands
for their babies," said Danone in a statement.

"Foreign-made baby formula are popular in China, especially since a
locally manufactured formula contaminated by melamine killed six infants
in 2008 and caused another 300,000 to fall ill."

[J-William]

Well isn't that great?

The Chinese government is criminalizing the practice in China, and the British are restricting it on their end...

As someone living in China the milk powder is a real concern. Our daughter is 18 months old and has not had any Chinese milk powder. My wife is concerned enough with fakes and fraud that she won't even buy from people selling online who bought in bulk from the US. We've had to rely on relatives instead.

I think it says a lot that the Chinese people don't trust the government declarations that the milk powder is safe, and are willing to go to great pains and expense to import the powder from overseas.

My nephew has a mysterious kidney problem that the doctors won't offer any explanation for, but they are not even allowed to suggest that it was the milk powder... because the government doesn't want that 300,000 number to be even bigger.

 

[st434u]

Does the UK State subsidize this for locals, and is this why sales are being restricted?