Dairy company halts production over tainted formula scandal

 BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese dairy company has been ordered to suspend production after its infant formula products were found to contain the carcinogen aflatoxin, the nation's quality watchdog said Monday.

Excessive amounts of aflatoxin were detected in five formula products made by Ava Dairy Co., Ltd. and its parent company during spot checks on Sunday in Guangdong province, said Li Yuanping, spokesman for China's General Administration of Quality Supervision², Inspection³ and Quarantine.

Li said authorities in Changsha, capital of Hunan province where the company is headquartered, have launched an investigation⁴, and the company has started recalling the affected⁵ products.

According to Changsha's administration for industry and commerce, aflatoxin was found in 31.5 tonnes of products produced by the company between July and December last year. They were mainly sold to supermarkets in Hunan and Guangdong.

An initial probe indicated the contamination might have come from the feed.

Ava Dairy on Monday apologized on its website to consumers, promising⁶ an overhaul⁷ and cooperation with local officials in the investigation.

Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus⁸ that commonly grows on grain and peanuts. High levels of the toxin¹ have been shown to cause cancer in animal tests.

1 toxin   

n.毒素，毒质

参考例句：

• Experts have linked this condition to a build-up of toxins in the body.专家已把这一病症与体内毒素的积累联系起来。
• Tests showed increased levels of toxin in shellfish.检验表明水生有壳动物的毒素水平提高了。

2 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

3 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

8 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。