The China Consumers Association on Friday called on rural parents to have their infants thoroughly examined to ensure they are not fed with inferior milk powder, which has caused deaths of thirteen infants in east China's Anhui Province.

Recent reports showed besides the deaths, 171 infants suffered from malnutrition after being fed with milk powder deficient in protein and other nutrients. Two are still being treated in hospital.

The majority of them live in rural areas in Fuyang City. The parents bought cheap milk powder which contained little nutritional ingredients at rural shops in Fuyang. The children displayed swollen heads, while their bodies failed to grow properly.

The China Consumers Association suggests parents to buy milk powders with well-known brands and good reputations, while not to buy milk powders at too low prices and with poor packages.

The prices of inferior milk powder in Fuyang were about half of the lowest prices for those Chinese-made qualified ones.

(Xinhau News Agency April 24, 2004)