In September 2008, the world was shocked at the sight of
little babies in China attached to dialysis machines as
they fight for their lives. Yet, the news of contaminated
milk formula did not gain much attention until it was
realized that the melamine problem is not only restricted
to China only but has actually spread globally. However, no
ill effects of melamine has been reported outside China and
its territories.
Melamine is an organic compound with the official IUPAC
name of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine and the chemical
formula of C3H6N6. It is a solid white-colored base, and is
odorless. It is slightly soluble in water, stable, and not
easily biodegradable.
Melamine is an industrial ingredient used to manufacture
different kinds of products. It is used in combination with
formaldehyde in the production of plastics and cleaning
products. It is also combined with other compounds in the
manufacture of fire retardants, pesticides, fertilizers,
extra-strong concrete. Many things in our home have been
manufactured with the use of melamine, from Formica counter
tops, to certain fabrics, to plastic kitchenware (melaware).
Melamine has been thought to be of low risk to humans.
According to this Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS),
melamine is "Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed
through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or
reproductive damage. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant."
The toxicity of melamine, however, is low. To be "poisoned"
by melamine, as determined by the so-called LD50, which is
the lethal dose that will kill 50% of animals tested, is 3
g per kg of body weight (source: WHO).
According to studies cited in the Hazardous Substances Data
Bank (HSDB), "melamine itself does not seem to be important
industrial hazard except if decomposed by heat." Allergic
and irritative dermatitis have been observed to result from
occupational exposure to melamine but no permanent injury
due to toxicity has been reported.
Like most industrial chemicals, toxicological tests on
melamine have been performed using animals to determine its
potential toxicity to humans which include the formation of
calcareous deposits in the kidneys of female rats after 13
weeks of feeding melamine-containing food (WHO) and tumors
in the urinary bladders of male rats fed diets with
melamine for 103 weeks (IARC). According to this later
study, melamine and cyanuric acid together caused renal
toxicity in cats, pigs, and fish. The study concluded that
"although melamine and cyanuric acid appeared to have low
toxicity when administered separately, they induced
extensive renal crystal formation when administered
together.
However, there are significant gaps in our knowledge of
melamine and its effect on our body. The safety/risk
assessment conducted by the US FDA did not give any clear
answers. In food products other than infant formula, the
FDA concludes levels of melamine and melamine-related
compounds below 2.5 parts per million (ppm) do not raise
health concerns."
In the current melamine contamination scandal, however, it
is not acute toxicity that caused the health problems. What
is making the babies ill is chronic or subchronic toxicity.
In addition, the toxicity of melamine increases when
combined with another compound called cyanuric acid.
Cyanuric acid theoretically non-toxic is present in food
additives for animal feeds and in water disinfectants.
Human exposure to cyanotic acid may be through swimming
pool waters, drinking water, and fish. The combination of
these two compounds can lead to acute toxicity, as it
produces melamine cyanurate, a toxic substance in the form
of insoluble crystals that then accumulated in vital
organs, especially the kidneys, forming renal crystals or
kidney stones that block kidney tubules.
It is speculated that manufacturers mixed melamine in milk
formulas to increase the protein content of their products.
Food products are tested for protein content by measuring
nitrogen content. Looking at the chemical composition of
melamine, we can see that it has high nitrogen content.
This not the first time that melamine was used deliberately
as protein content enhancer although this is the most
deadly so far. In 2007, many cats and dogs died of kidney
failure as a result of the formation of renal crystals or
kidney stones. The cause of the renal toxicity was traced
to melamine which was detected in pet food.
Melamine-cyanuric acid cocrystals were found in the
animals' kidneys and the case was well-publicized. It is
therefore highly unlikely that the perpetrators who tainted
the baby formulas are unaware of the hazards of melamine
consumption.
But this year's melamine scandal was more shocking than
last year's because it affected and killed little babies.
The following is a summary of events.
September 2008 - Fourteen babies in the Chinese province of
Gansu were reported to be suffering from kidney stones, a
very rare occurrence in young children. The suspected cause
was the milk formula they were drinking. More and more
cases of ill babies were reported all over China. The milk
powder in question was manufactured by the Sanlu Group.
The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) issued a
health information advisory on infant formulas. The
advisory "is to assure the American public that there is no
known threat of contamination in infant formula
manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to
sell infant formula in the United States... The following
manufacturers have met the necessary FDA requirements for
marketing milk-based infant formulas in the United States:
Abbott Nutritionals, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA,
PBM Nutritionals, and Solus Products LLC."
The director of the Chinese agency General Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine resigned
as investigations showed that the melamine contamination is
quite widespread. Tests showed that milk products of up to
22 dairy producers were contaminated with melamine.
The US FDA updated the advisory to issue a list of
contaminated products manufactured in Taiwan, including Mr.
Brown instant coffee and milk tea products.
The New Zealand Food safety Authority found melamine in
China's most popular sweet White Rabbit Creamy Candies.
The UK chocolate maker Cadbury recalled its Chinese-made
products after chocolates from their Beijing factory tested
positive for melamine, according to this International
Herald Tribune report.
October 2008 - The problem spread to Europe. Chinese
candies contaminated with melamine were found in an Asian
supermarket in Germany. There were also reports of
contaminated food products in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The US FDA detected melamine in Blue Cat Flavor Drinks.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a warning
against the consumption of Sherwood Brands Pirate's Gold
Milk Chocolate Coins which tested positive for melamine. It
was not clear how the contamination occurred.
The numbers of ill babies rose up to tens of thousands.
Eighty percent of those affected were below the age of 2.
Four cases proved to be fatal. China also recalled not only
powdered milk but also liquid milk manufactured during the
last couple of months.
Hong Kong found excessive amounts of melamine in eggs
coming from mainland China. Officials suspected that the
contamination came through melamine in the chicken feeds.
They have ordered testing of all animal feeds and poultry
products from the mainland. "Hong Kong has imposed a limit
on melamine use in foods, restricting it to no more than
2.5 milligrams per kilogramme. Melamine found in food meant
for children under three and lactating mothers should be no
higher than one mg per kg", according to the BBC.
November 2008 - The US FDA issued a nationwide alert
warning for Chinese import food products and found traces
of melamine in one baby formula made by an American
manufacturer. The regulatory body claimed the contamination
was accidental but did not go into details.
December 2008 - Food Standards Australia New Zealand issued
a list of products contaminated with melamine.
The US FDA tried to assure the American public that
American-produced formulas are safe from contamination. "To
date, FDA tests have found extremely low levels of melamine
in one infant formula sample and extremely low levels of
cyanuric acid in another. The levels were so low (well
below 1 ppm) that they do not pose a health risk to
infants." The FDA made public the test results on domestic
infant formula. Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron
from Nestle contained very low amounts of melamine. In
addition, cyanotic acid was found in one type of Enfamil
from the manufacturer Mead Johnson.
On the part of the Chinese health authorities, they are
trying to repair the damage through recalls and arrests of
those responsible. Developing countries, however, which do
not have the means to test import products, are at risk of
becoming dumping grounds of contaminated products.
The best strategy is to simply avoid melamine at all costs.
Consumers are advised to be vigilant about what they buy
and consume, most especially products consumed by children
in large quantities. These include milk and milk products,
chocolates, sweets, and biscuits.
----------------------------------------------------
The article Melamine, Pet Food and Our Food Safety may be
found in its entirety with references and links on
http://HealthWorldNet.com .
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=55568
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