The two Zhangs - Zhang Yujun and Zhang Yanzhang - went on trial on Friday, after being accused of illegally manufacturing and selling a “protein powder” consisting melamine and malt dextrin, which killed six children and sickened about 300,000 others. If convicted, the accused in the tainted milk scandal face death penalty.

The confirmation of the trial came from an official at the publicity office of Hebei Supreme Court, who said that the trial started Friday at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People’s Court.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency reports the so-called protein powder was added to raw milk to give it an appearance of being high in protein content. Police found the illegal workshop run by the two Zhangs on the outskirts of Jinan in Shandong province in eastern China.

Police officials say that the production of the fake protein powder at the workshop, from September 2007 to October 2008, was nearly 600 tons, making it largest source of melamine in the country.

The main company involved in the scandal, Sanlu Group Co., is based in Shijiazhuang. Earlier this week, the company – which is 43 percent-owned by New Zealand daily cooperative, Fonterra Group - confirmed its bankruptcy.

The Legal Daily newspaper reports that, Sanlu’s former chairwoman and general manager, Tian Wenhua, is likely to go on trial on Wednesday in Shijiazhuang, for “selling fake and shoddy products.”