| In September 2008, the world was shocked at the | | | | babies. The following is a summary of events. |
| sight of little babies in China attached to dialysis | | | | September 2008 - Fourteen babies in the Chinese |
| machines as they fight for their lives. Yet, the news | | | | province of Gansu were reported to be suffering |
| of contaminated milk formula did not gain much | | | | from kidney stones, a very rare occurrence in young |
| attention until it was realized that the melamine | | | | children. The suspected cause was the milk formula |
| problem is not only restricted to China only but has | | | | they were drinking. More and more cases of ill babies |
| actually spread globally. However, no ill effects of | | | | were reported all over China. The milk powder in |
| melamine has been reported outside China and its | | | | question was manufactured by the Sanlu Group. |
| territories. | | | | The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) |
| Melamine is an organic compound with the official | | | | issued a health information advisory on infant |
| IUPAC name of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine and the | | | | formulas. The advisory "is to assure the American |
| chemical formula of C3H6N6. It is a solid | | | | public that there is no known threat of contamination |
| white-colored base, and is odorless. It is slightly | | | | in infant formula manufactured by companies that |
| soluble in water, stable, and not easily biodegradable. | | | | have met the requirements to sell infant formula in |
| Melamine is an industrial ingredient used to | | | | the United States... The following manufacturers have |
| manufacture different kinds of products. It is used in | | | | met the necessary FDA requirements for marketing |
| combination with formaldehyde in the production of | | | | milk-based infant formulas in the United States: |
| plastics and cleaning products. It is also combined with | | | | Abbott Nutritionals, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle |
| other compounds in the manufacture of fire | | | | USA, PBM Nutritionals, and Solus Products LLC." |
| retardants, pesticides, fertilizers, extra-strong | | | | The director of the Chinese agency General |
| concrete. Many things in our home have been | | | | Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and |
| manufactured with the use of melamine, from | | | | Quarantine resigned as investigations showed that |
| Formica counter tops, to certain fabrics, to plastic | | | | the melamine contamination is quite widespread. |
| kitchenware (melaware). | | | | Tests showed that milk products of up to 22 dairy |
| Melamine has been thought to be of low risk to | | | | producers were contaminated with melamine. |
| humans. According to this Material Safety Data Sheet | | | | The US FDA updated the advisory to issue a list of |
| (MSDS), melamine is "Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or | | | | contaminated products manufactured in Taiwan, |
| absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may | | | | including Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea |
| cause cancer or reproductive damage. Eye, skin and | | | | products. |
| respiratory irritant." The toxicity of melamine, | | | | The New Zealand Food safety Authority found |
| however, is low. To be "poisoned" by melamine, as | | | | melamine in China's most popular sweet White Rabbit |
| determined by the so-called LD50, which is the lethal | | | | Creamy Candies. |
| dose that will kill 50% of animals tested, is 3 g per kg | | | | The UK chocolate maker Cadbury recalled its |
| of body weight (source: WHO). | | | | Chinese-made products after chocolates from their |
| According to studies cited in the Hazardous | | | | Beijing factory tested positive for melamine, |
| Substances Data Bank (HSDB), "melamine itself does | | | | according to this International Herald Tribune report. |
| not seem to be important industrial hazard except if | | | | October 2008 - The problem spread to Europe. |
| decomposed by heat." Allergic and irritative dermatitis | | | | Chinese candies contaminated with melamine were |
| have been observed to result from occupational | | | | found in an Asian supermarket in Germany. There |
| exposure to melamine but no permanent injury due | | | | were also reports of contaminated food products in |
| to toxicity has been reported. | | | | Belgium and the Netherlands. The US FDA detected |
| Like most industrial chemicals, toxicological tests on | | | | melamine in Blue Cat Flavor Drinks. |
| melamine have been performed using animals to | | | | The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued |
| determine its potential toxicity to humans which | | | | a warning against the consumption of Sherwood |
| include the formation of calcareous deposits in the | | | | Brands Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate Coins which |
| kidneys of female rats after 13 weeks of feeding | | | | tested positive for melamine. It was not clear how |
| melamine-containing food (WHO) and tumors in the | | | | the contamination occurred. |
| urinary bladders of male rats fed diets with melamine | | | | The numbers of ill babies rose up to tens of |
| for 103 weeks (IARC). According to this later study, | | | | thousands. Eighty percent of those affected were |
| melamine and cyanuric acid together caused renal | | | | below the age of 2. Four cases proved to be fatal. |
| toxicity in cats, pigs, and fish. The study concluded | | | | China also recalled not only powdered milk but also |
| that "although melamine and cyanuric acid appeared | | | | liquid milk manufactured during the last couple of |
| to have low toxicity when administered separately, | | | | months. |
| they induced extensive renal crystal formation when | | | | Hong Kong found excessive amounts of melamine in |
| administered together. | | | | eggs coming from mainland China. Officials suspected |
| However, there are significant gaps in our knowledge | | | | that the contamination came through melamine in the |
| of melamine and its effect on our body. The safety | | | | chicken feeds. They have ordered testing of all |
| risk assessment conducted by the US FDA did not | | | | animal feeds and poultry products from the mainland. |
| give any clear answers. In food products other than | | | | "Hong Kong has imposed a limit on melamine use in |
| infant formula, the FDA concludes levels of melamine | | | | foods, restricting it to no more than 2.5 milligrams per |
| and melamine-related compounds below 2.5 parts per | | | | kilogramme. Melamine found in food meant for |
| million (ppm) do not raise health concerns." | | | | children under three and lactating mothers should be |
| In the current melamine contamination scandal, | | | | no higher than one mg per kg", according to the BBC. |
| however, it is not acute toxicity that caused the | | | | November 2008 - The US FDA issued a nationwide |
| health problems. What is making the babies ill is | | | | alert warning for Chinese import food products and |
| chronic or subchronic toxicity. In addition, the toxicity | | | | found traces of melamine in one baby formula made |
| of melamine increases when combined with another | | | | by an American manufacturer. The regulatory body |
| compound called cyanuric acid. Cyanuric acid | | | | claimed the contamination was accidental but did not |
| theoretically non-toxic is present in food additives for | | | | go into details. |
| animal feeds and in water disinfectants. Human | | | | December 2008 - Food Standards Australia New |
| exposure to cyanotic acid may be through swimming | | | | Zealand issued a list of products contaminated with |
| pool waters, drinking water, and fish. The combination | | | | melamine. |
| of these two compounds can lead to acute toxicity, | | | | The US FDA tried to assure the American public that |
| as it produces melamine cyanurate, a toxic substance | | | | American-produced formulas are safe from |
| in the form of insoluble crystals that then | | | | contamination. "To date, FDA tests have found |
| accumulated in vital organs, especially the kidneys, | | | | extremely low levels of melamine in one infant |
| forming renal crystals or kidney stones that block | | | | formula sample and extremely low levels of cyanuric |
| kidney tubules. | | | | acid in another. The levels were so low (well below 1 |
| It is speculated that manufacturers mixed melamine | | | | ppm) that they do not pose a health risk to infants." |
| in milk formulas to increase the protein content of | | | | The FDA made public the test results on domestic |
| their products. Food products are tested for protein | | | | infant formula. Good Start Supreme Infant Formula |
| content by measuring nitrogen content. Looking at | | | | with Iron from Nestle contained very low amounts of |
| the chemical composition of melamine, we can see | | | | melamine. In addition, cyanotic acid was found in one |
| that it has high nitrogen content. | | | | type of Enfamil from the manufacturer Mead |
| This not the first time that melamine was used | | | | Johnson. |
| deliberately as protein content enhancer although this | | | | On the part of the Chinese health authorities, they |
| is the most deadly so far. In 2007, many cats and | | | | are trying to repair the damage through recalls and |
| dogs died of kidney failure as a result of the | | | | arrests of those responsible. Developing countries, |
| formation of renal crystals or kidney stones. The | | | | however, which do not have the means to test |
| cause of the renal toxicity was traced to melamine | | | | import products, are at risk of becoming dumping |
| which was detected in pet food. Melamine-cyanuric | | | | grounds of contaminated products. |
| acid cocrystals were found in the animals' kidneys and | | | | The best strategy is to simply avoid melamine at all |
| the case was well-publicized. It is therefore highly | | | | costs. Consumers are advised to be vigilant about |
| unlikely that the perpetrators who tainted the baby | | | | what they buy and consume, most especially |
| formulas are unaware of the hazards of melamine | | | | products consumed by children in large quantities. |
| consumption. | | | | These include milk and milk products, chocolates, |
| But this year's melamine scandal was more shocking | | | | sweets, and biscuits. |
| than last year's because it affected and killed little | | | | |