About 85 percent of 452 Shanghai residents polled for a survey believe breast milk is superior to other dairy substitutes for the development of infants.

A woman feeds her baby bottled milk in a children's hospital in Shanghai. [File photo]

The survey, conducted by Shanghai Morning Post after a clinical investigation found no evidence that milk powder produced by a Chinese company caused three infants to grow breasts, was aimed at finding out the consumers' confidence in milk powder.

About 33 percent of the respondents said they will no longer buy domestically manufactured milk powder because they doubt the quality, while 41 percent said they usually buy imported milk powder.

About 10 percent said they will buy milk powder that comes at a price higher than 300 yuan ($44) per jar (900 grams), while 20 percent said they do not want to pay more than 100 yuan per jar.

Some 43 percent said they will go for milk powder that is in the price range of 100 to 200 yuan per jar.

Reportedly, some working mothers, who have no time to breastfeed their infants during the day, pump their breast milk at noon and bring it back to their children after work.

Specially designed equipment to preserve bottled breast milk is popular in online shops.

The World Health Organization and China's Ministry of Health both suggested caregivers add complementary food for infants when they are 6 months old and continue breastfeeding until they are 2 years old or more.

The lack of confidence in domestically produced foodstuff is spreading, according to the survey.