Milk powder: Dozens of infants were treated this week for kidney stones linked to milk formula contaminated with toxic melamine.

In 2004, at least 13 babies died of malnutrition after being fed fake milk powder which contained no nutrients.

Blood thinner: In March, China identified a contaminant in batches of the blood thinner heparin, supplied to Baxter International by a China-United States joint venture plant in China's Changzhou.

The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether the 'over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate' in the heparin was the cause of over 80 deaths and more than 700 cases of serious breathing problems reported in the US.

Pet food: At least 16 cats and dogs died and more than 100 pet food brands were recalled in North America in March last year, after Chinese suppliers were found to have used melamine in wheat gluten and rice protein in pet food.

Toothpaste, cough syrup: Two brands of Chinese toothpaste were banned in the Dominican Republic in May last year, due to fears that they contained the lethal chemical diethylene glycol - a key ingredient in antifreeze which can cause kidney and liver damage.

Diethylene glycol was also blamed for at least 100 deaths in Panama. The victims are thought to have died after consuming toxic, mis-labelled drugs in cough syrups from China.

Toys: The world's largest toymaker, Mattel, recalled more than 18million made-in-China toys a year ago because of hazards from small, powerful magnets that could cause injury if swallowed, just two weeks after it recalled 1.5million toys due to fears over lead paint.

Even small amounts of lead in paint can result in serious health problems, affecting a child's behaviour and learning abilities. In larger amounts, it can cause fits and death.

Tyres: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration insisted on the recall of as many as 450,000 tyres made by China's second-largest tyre maker, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber, in June last year. It reported that the tyres, used on sport utility vehicles, vans and trucks, could fail at highway speeds because of an insufficient or missing gum strip which prevented belt separation. The company rebuffed the accusations.

REUTERS