'Breast growth' link to baby milk powder is probed

China is investigating parents' claims that a brand of milk powder has caused a small number of babies to grow breasts, the health ministry has said.

The China Daily newspaper and other state media said parents of at least three children in the central province of Hubei had made the claims involving formula made by China-based Synutra International.

Health Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua said authorities are investigating and testing milk powder, made by Synutra. "The results will be announced to as soon as possible," he said.

The company denied the reports and said it was taking legal action to protect its brand.

"We have worked closely with state authorities, including the Chinese Dairy Association and the office of food safety, to test product samples, to prove that these claims are false. We expect that the results of these tests should be made public soon," Synutra Chief Executive Liang Zhang said.