Did Mandelson's dodgy Chinese milk stunt give him kidney stones?
When Peter Mandelson was rushed to hospital last week with kidney stones, the reason for his ailment was subject to much speculation.
But now it seems that his condition could have been prompted by a bizarre incident in Beijing.
In one of his last Press conferences as EU Trade Commissioner on September 26, Mr Mandelson gulped a glass of Chinese yoghurt.
Gesture politics: Peter Mandelson drinking the yoghurt in China
Chinese dairy produce has been banned worldwide over fears that it could cause kidney stones after industrial plastic was found in some products.
Four babies there have died after drinking formula milk mixed with the chemical melamine to boost protein.
Mr Mandelson’s drinking was intended to show solidarity with China’s dairy industry and was broadcast live on national TV. He said: ‘I shall continue drinking my favourite milk product which I enjoy and which does not make me nervous.’
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was ‘deeply moved’. ‘It is because he not only sees the present but the future as well,’ he said.
But that future involved Mr Mandelson being diagnosed with kidney stones ten days later. He was reportedly taken to hospital in London in the early hours of Monday by Health Minister Lord Darzi.
He discharged himself to attend a credit crisis meeting but returned later that day for further treatment. He has not had a stone removed. The condition often eases with medication.
Experts said it was ‘highly unlikely’ Mr Mandelson’s emergency was caused by the yoghurt but the drama is an embarrassment for China, which has introduced regulations to stop the contamination. Mr Mandelson’s spokesman said: ‘He won’t want to comment.’
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