Employee claims Danone gave bribes

Whistle-blower says corporation approved medical staff kickbacks

A whistle-blower claims the French company Danone bribed hospital staff in seven provinces and municipalities in an effort to promote its baby formulas for newborns and experts say such practices are part of the unspoken rules in the industry.

Danone, which markets its infant formula under the brand Dumex, gave kickbacks that amounted to nearly 500,000 yuan ($81,700) to medical staff in seven provinces and municipalities in northern China in April alone, Beijing Times reported on Monday, citing a whistle-blower from the company.