 Later the same year , it was revealed that large quantities of infant formula had been tainted with melamine , causing 300 @,@ 000 infants to fall ill and resulting in several deaths . A group of parents of the victims were reportedly detained for attempting to draw media attention to their plight . Dozens of lawyers — particularly from the provinces of Hebei , Henan and Shandong — offered pro @-@ bono legal services to victims , but their efforts were obstructed by authorities . 
