Two people were executed Tuesday in China for their involvement in the tainted milk scandal, in which at least six children have died and more than 300 000 have fallen ill.

Zhang Yujun was executed for endangering public safety by dangerous means, and Geng Jinping, for production and sale of toxic foods, “said Municipal Intermediate People’s Court of Shijiazhuang in a statement.

Zhang Yujun was convicted of having produced over 770 tonnes of protein powder containing melamine, and have sold more than 600 tonnes between July 2007 and August 2008.

Geng Jinping was convicted of having sold more than 900 tons of contaminated milk containing 434 kg of protein powder to Sanlu Group, now dismantled and in the center of the scandal at the time, between October 2007 and August 2008.

The Intermediate People’s Court of Shijiazhuang City sentenced them to death January 21 last, and they appealed. The Higher People’s Court of Hebei province has upheld the conviction March 26.

The conviction and execution have been approved by the Supreme People’s Court of China, the statement said.

The Sanlu Group, based in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, was the largest producer of milk powder in China for 15 years before the tainted milk scandal broke last September.

Milk powder contaminated baby product group is responsible for the deaths of at least six children and has sickened more than 300 000.

In total, 21 people were convicted in January for their role in the scandal.

Among them, two were sentenced to death, another to death with reprieve, three to life imprisonment and 15 others to prison terms ranging from two to 15 years.

China Executes Two More People Over Tainted Milk Scandal