Trans-fat found in mainland China milk formula brands

Three popular mainland milk powder brands contain trans-fat that experts say could lead to heart disease and should be avoided by infants, a laboratory test commissioned by the South China Morning Post has found.

The tests found that the three brands - Beingmate's Baby Club, Synutra's Super infant formula, and Yili's Gold infant formula - each contain between 0.4 and 0.6 grams of trans-fat (trans-fatty acids) per 100 grams of milk powder.

But no trans-fat is indicated on the packaging. Mainland law does not require labels on baby formula to state the trans-fat content.

The levels of trans-fat in the formula fall within mainland and international safety standards.

One of the brands - Synutra's Super infant formula stage 1 - was also found to contain twice as much sodium as the packaging says it does, although the level was within international safety standards.

The tests found trans-fat in the Beingmate and Synutra formula at a level of 0.4 grams per 100 grams and in the Yili formula at a level of 0.6 grams. None of the brands is sold in Hong Kong.