Mumbai, Sept. 28 (Reuters): German carmaker Volkswagen has stopped buying mica from some suppliers in India, following a media investigation that found child workers were dying in illegal mines, a company official said.

A three-month investigation in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh revealed that at least seven children were killed since June mining for mica, the mineral that puts a sparkle in makeup and car paint.

VW and its tier one, or direct, paint suppliers in India have put additional due diligence efforts in place to make sure the mica they are buying comes from legal mines where child labour is not used, company spokeswoman Leslie Bothge said.

"This has led to the temporary suspension of purchases on some supply chains until the due diligence is completed and respective measures have been put in place."