Fears linger decade after fake baby formula tragedy (2)

PERSISTENT TRAUMA

Since most of the babies in the Fuyang incident were younger than six months and in a key stage of growth, the severe malnutrition they experienced may have damaged their brains and therefore stunted their development, Liu said.

Although their has been no medical study to track the development of the children, some parents have complained that their children get sick often and have poor grades.

Ten-year-old Miao Yuting was fed with low-quality formula during the first 70 days of her life.

"The girl has been quite prone to illness and has a poor appetite. She is not doing well in school either," said her mother, Rong Hui.

Rong gave birth to a boy in 2005 and insisted on breastfeeding him. "My son is much healthier than his sister," she said.

Another victim, Zhu Dexu, is also struggling with school. "He works harder than his peers, but often receives grades that are barely passing,"

said Xiao Guiqian, principal of the Dengzhuang Primary School.

Zhang Linwei and his wife are still grieving over the death of their daughter, who died in August 2003 after drinking fake milk powder bearing the "Lyuyuan" brand.

"The retailer recommended the brand, saying 'rural people don't need to buy expensive brands'," recalled Zhang, who was then a railway maintenance worker earning 27 yuan a day.

Now a father of two, Zhang is highly cautious about his children's health. He has developed a habit of demanding a receipt when buying food at the local grocery store.

"Health. That's all I hope for the kids," Zhang said.