Danone in bribe scandal

The nation's official television network China Central Television aired a TV report on Monday alleging that French food group Danone SA had bribed doctors and nurses to recommend its Dumex milk powder brand at a hospital in Tianjin.

The TV report cited an unidentified former Dumex sales manager as saying that the firm had paid medical staff at the hospital in the North China city to give its products to newborn babies.

The Chinese government handed down a record fine of 670 million yuan in August to several local and foreign milk powder firms, including Danone, for price fixing.