By Xinhua,
Beijing : China’s chief quality supervisor Li Changjiang stepped down Monday afternoon after at least four infants died and thousands fell ill in the wake of the contaminated baby food scandal.
Li is the highest-ranking official to step down after the scandal shook the entire nation.
Li was replaced by Wang Yong, former cabinet deputy secretary-general, as the director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ).
Across the country, 13,000 babies were being treated in hospitals after falling ill from melamine-contaminated milk powder, the health ministry said Sunday.
Wu Xianguo, Communist Party chief in the northern city of Shijiazhuang, where the scandal first came to light, was also sacked Monday for his failure to report the development to higher authorities in time.