BEIJING, September 13, 2008 (AFP) - Some 432 Chinese babies have developed kidney stones blamed on contaminated milk powder, Health Minister Gao Qiang said Saturday, adding the manufacturer had been ordered to halt production.

'As of September 12, there are 432 cases of kidney stones in the urinary systems of infants according to reports from health departments nationwide,' Gao told journalists.

Gao said local authorities in Hebei province had ordered the Sanlu Group to stop production after finding its milk powder was contaminated.