Dumex 'shocked' at reported bribery in hospital

On Monday, we reported that dairy makers including Dumex, a baby food brand owned by Danone, had bribed doctors and nurses to market baby milk formula in a hospital in Tianjin. This is in direct contravention of Chinese government rules which have banned hospitals from marketing milk powder.

The company has now replied to the news story and sent us a letter saying Dumex China was, and I quote, "shocked" and "attaches great importance to this", and that they will "immediately start investigations".

We had reported that in the hospital in Tianjin, newborns were denied breast milk and were instead given milk powder the hospital prepared. Their mothers and family members didn't have a say in the matter.

The story showed a document which details Dumex's bribery. Two former business practitioners also confirmed that bribery had indeed taken place.

Nearly 70 per cent of the more than 20 million babies born in China each year are fed milk formula when it is not healthy for them. Mother's milk is what they need and is what is recommended medically as well.