Beijing, Sept 26 - The Chinese maker of the popular White Rabbit candy will halt domestic sales due to suspected melamine contamination, state media reported on Friday, days after Singapore pulled the candy from its shelves.
Shanghai-based Guan Sheng Yuan (Group) Co Ltd had previously recalled exports and would stop selling White Rabbit candy in China, the official Xinhua news agency said, without giving a timeframe.
A spokeswoman at the company declined to comment on the report but told Reuters it would make a statement later in the day.
Singapore on Sunday pulled the company's White Rabbit candy from shelves in the city-state after samples were found to contain melamine.
Beijing is battling public alarm and international dismay after four Chinese children died and thousands of others were hospitalised for kidney stones and other illnesses after consuming tainted infant milk formula.
Officials said melamine, a cheap industrial chemical that can be used to cheat quality checks, had been added to the forumla, livestock feed and other dairy products.
Despite official assurances that dairy products are now safe, countries around the world have been making checks of China-made dairy products, including sweets and formula, and many countries have imposed bans or recalls.