People involved in baby lotion production under investigation

People involved in the production of baby lotions with a hormone that harms children's growth have been put under control by the police in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, on suspicion of producing and selling shoddy goods, the city's health commission said on Monday.

Health and market regulation authorities in Zhangzhou have also revoked the production license and the operation permit of Ou'ai Infant and Children Health and Care Appliance, the company involved in the incident, the commission said in a notice posted on its website.

In early January, a microblogger on Sina Weibo posted a video of a 5-month-old infant in Jiangsu province who started to show symptoms of growth retardation and facial swelling after using a lotion produced by the company.

Assessment and evaluation by a third-party organization showed that the lotion contained 30 milligrams of clobetasol propionate per kilogram, although the instructions that came with the lotion declared the lotion hormone-free and suitable for babies' daily skin care, Xinhua News Agency reported on Jan 9.

Clobetasol propionate is a hormone for external use to treat various skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It should be applied following doctors guidance, and improper application, such as using it long term or in large doses, could cause side effects.

The health department in Zhangzhou had earlier suspended the company's production, recalled products involved in the incident and taken samples for further testing.