The NUK baby powder (Guangzhou Daily)

A major distributor of the NUK baby products has ordered a nationwide recall and is offering refunds following a contamination scare.

Suzhou Debao Baby Supplies, which imported 11.6 tons from the South Korean manufacturer, said all customers would be given their money back.

The baby powder is under investigation by the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) for allegedly containing a prohibited ingredient.

It has sealed 48 cans of the product after South Korean media reports the powder contained the carcinogen asbestos during inspections on Sunday.

As news of the investigation spread yesterday, 28-year-old Shanghai woman Xu Fan said she wanted answers: "I will give birth in two months and who can we trust?"

"I hope AQSIQ better regulates the market and helps me find the right and safe products for my child."

Distributors of NUK baby powder in Beijing said the products were removed from shelves and supply to local outlets had been suspended, Beijing Television reported.

But NUK baby powder was still available to purchase online at popular websites such as taobao.com, eachnet.com, and alibaba.com.

"We contacted and reconfirmed with our NUK suppliers immediately and stopped sales of the products," said Min Rui, of baby products online supplier Red Baby.

Shopping malls like New World Department Store, Cuiwei Building and ShuangAn Department Store have also suspended sale of the product.

(China Daily April 7, 2009)