China's quality supervisor has banned a leading domestic dairy manufacturer from putting a questionable additive into one of its milk products, citing possible health concerns.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine notified a subordinate agency in Inner Mongolia on February 2 to order Mengniu Dairy Co to stop adding the OMP, a milk protein, to its milk, the National Business Daily said yesterday.

The agency said it took the action because China has never set standards on the material and is not sure whether it is safe. There was no order for a recall of the products already made, however.

The ban was the first time China had taken a position on the additive, which the company says can help build and repair human tissue. Fang Zhouzi, a biochemist, said high levels of the additive might lead to a higher cancer risk.

(Shanghai Daily February 12, 2009)