Tainted formula sickened more 53,000 children in China. The melamine-spiked milk also resulted in four deaths. (Associated Press)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued detention orders on Chinese imports including dairy products, candy, and food for babies and pets.

"Reports of contamination have come from more than 13 countries in Asia, Europe and Australia, in addition to the United States," the federal agency said in an import alert issued Wednesday.

"The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food products is a recurring one."

The directive allows FDA inspectors to hold foods containing milk products until testing confirms they are not tainted with melamine. Chinese companies must now prove that their products are safe for consumption.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency in October said it was working with Canada Border Services Agency to verify the safety of imported products containing milk from China.

Chinese authorities in September launched an investigation when thousands of infants fell ill after consuming infant formula. More than 53,000 illnesses and four deaths were reported. Investigators found the formula was contaminated with melamine — a white crystalline substance used to make plastics and laminates.

Melamine found in candies, eggs

Melamine has since been detected in Chinese products such as candies, eggs, milk products, beverages, cakes and cookies. Authorities believe melamine has been added to the products and animal feed to mask low nutrient levels.

Canada's food watchdog has issued recalls for melamine-tainted products including candy, pretzels and coffee mixes.

In 2007, investigators detected the presence of melamine in pet food sold in North America after owners began complaining their pets were falling ill and unexpectedly dying.

Pet food manufacturers later said wheat gluten and rice protein imported from China were spiked with melamine. In the same year, Canadian and U.S. health officials began testing fish samples after finding farmed fish had been given feed bulked up with melamine.