Starbucks and KFC are drawn into China's tainted milk scandal

STARBUCKS and KFC have admitted using products from firms affected by China's tainted milk crisis.

The news cames as Hong Kong ordered recalls of ice creams found to be contaminated with melamine, the compound responsible for killing four babies in a health scandal.

Both companies issued statements saying their outlets relied on products provided by a major local supplier, Mengniu, identified as having contaminated milk.

The findings were made public as Beijing authorities confirmed that ordinary milk on sale in supermarkets from major suppliers was also contaminated. More than one fifth of China's powdered baby milk producers have been found to have been using melamine to bulk up their milk.

Melamine makes milk appear richer in protein but causes kidney stones to form in infants. The crisis has left four infants dead and more than 6,000 other babies across the country are ill.