Mainland spirit, winemaker deny rumors of cancer-causing products

The mainland’s top spirit maker Kweichow Moutai today denied internet reports that its products contain sodium nitrate, a cancer-causing agent, Reuters reported. Wine producer Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine made similar statements after financial internet sites published market rumors that sodium nitrate had been found in Moutai and Changyu products. "Such reporting is completely based on rumors," Moutai said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. "We hope media will not publish or spread this talk any more." The rumors surfaced amid a nationwide food safety scandal over tainted dairy that has led to thousands of Chinese infants being admitted to the hospital, and four deaths.