Chinese milk powder demand leads to British rationing

Shops in Britain are rationing sales of baby milk powder after Chinese buyers raided shelves because many fear mainland varieties are toxic, Reuters reported. Many stores are limiting buyers to two boxes because visitors and bulk purchasers were buying powder to send to China, the British Retail Consortium said. Shortages of milk powder have also been reported in Hong Kong and Australia. Demand for Western milk powder has been high in China since 2008, when at least six infants died and approximately 300,000 fell ill after ingesting milk laced with the industrial chemical melamine. The Chinese government has struggled to restore confidence in the domestic product.