BEIJING,21/09/2008 -- As the number of Chinese infants reported sickened by tainted milk increased to 53,000, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called manufacturers "heartless" and promised stricter laws to protect the public.
China's Health Ministry said Sunday that about 13,000 children were hospitalized, while another 40,000 had undergone outpatient treatment for illnesses related to suspected melamine-tainted milk products.
At least four children have died.
The latest statistics from mainland China come after Hong Kong reported that a 3-year-old girl has been sickened by a suspected melamine-tainted milk product -- the first known illness outside of mainland China.
The Chinese premier visited Beijing hospitals and a supermarket Sunday to show his concern for the crisis.
"What we need to do now is to ensure that nothing like this happens in the future, not only in dairy products, but in all foods," he said. "Manufacturers and owners of dairy companies should show more morality and social responsibility in these cases. They are heartless, so we have to create strict law and legislation. I'm sorry."
Chinese investigators have arrested at least 18 people in connection with the tainted milk case.
Investigators arrested two brothers who sold milk used to produce the contaminated baby milk powder last week. They could face death if convicted, according to China Daily, a state-run newspaper.
The raw milk had been watered down and the chemical added to fool quality checks, the newspaper said. Melamine is commonly used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. Watch CNN visit the company at the center of the scandal
Health experts say ingesting melamine can lead to kidney stones, urinary tract ulcers, and eye and skin irritation. It also robs infants of much-needed nutrition.
Thousands of tons of the tainted milk powder have been recalled.
Melamine is the same industrial contaminant from China that poisoned and killed thousands of U.S. dogs and cats last year.
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