FDA sets 'safe' levels for melamine in baby formula

by jordan | November 29, 2008 at 08:35 am

457 views | 16 Recommendations | 9 comments

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come up with what it considers an acceptable threshold for the presence of melamine (and other toxic agents) in baby formula. Were I a parent (or an infant!), I'd consider "zero" the only acceptable level.
(More melamine-related stories here)

"Amounts of the industrial chemical melamine or the melamine-like compound called cyanuric acid that are below 1.0 ppm [1,000 parts per billion] do not raise public health concerns," said Stephen Sundlof, the FDA's director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

When it became known in September that thousands of babies in China had been sickened by tainted infant formula, the FDA ordered the testing of U.S.-manufactured infant-formula products.

The F.D.A. had said before finding the contamination that melamine might be harmful in infant formula in any amount.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | Digg | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Add a comment

Paschen

at 10:31 on November 29th, 2008

I did not know that there was a save level with melamine since it is accumulative in the body fat and can act like a time bomb as the fat may be burned some time latter.

It does basically implies we ca not control it and it can be fund every where.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:56 on November 29th, 2008

The combination of cyanuric acid and melamine forms a yellow precipitate(stones) in the kidneys. That can't be good at any level.

AlidaMC (not verified)

at 19:16 on December 1st, 2008

I have lost all faith in the FDA.

I don't believe for a minute our food supply is really safe.

Kidney stones have been on the rise in children here.

The FDA is being just as negligent as the Chinese government. They were testing formula in October for melamine and then came out with "safe" levels, but they are still doing further research.

With the economy in turmoil, to find out that all the formula and other foods are contaminated would cause a further spiral in the economy.

mll

at 05:40 on December 2nd, 2008

Weird that a wealthy country like the USA had not defined a maximum rate of such a product.

mll has contributed a photo to this story.

mikebrady

at 04:15 on December 3rd, 2008

Examples of formula packaging from monitoring conducted by Baby Milk Action and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). See:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/

mikebrady has contributed a photo to this story.

MrsMssy (not verified)

at 13:46 on December 3rd, 2008

Just because there is melamine present at trace levels doesn't mean it is harmful. As instrumentation evolves with technology it is possible to analyze down to the part per trillion (ppt) level. There are so many pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other chemicals that are in our foodstuffs at these trace levels. It would be impossible to have any kind of food without something in there.

Art_By_Alida

at 09:34 on December 6th, 2008

I have been a food safety advocate for some time. There should be NO acceptable limits of melamine in food products whatsoever.

The FDA isn't protecting the American people anymore.

linwail82002

at 22:27 on December 7th, 2008

my baby.......Cheuk Nam or Nam Nam pig, this picture is photo on around 1/2 3 months, she likes stand up post, like this.......haha......

linwail82002 has contributed a photo to this story.

Stephanie G

at 01:16 on March 28th, 2009

Thanks for the info! A lot of people feared of using products imported from China. Aside from the melamine on milk scare, another item which is said to be toxic as well is the toothpaste made from China. Apart from toothpaste keeping your teeth and gums healthy, some of them have chemicals that are not supposed to be in it. The Selective Imports Corp in Southern California has been taken to task in the court for selling a toothpaste branded as "Cooldent", a product made from China. It has to be containing high levels of diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol or DEG is the thickening agent that is primarily used in products like windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze. According to the investigation, Cooldent contained twice the amount allowed. Needless to say, the state of California was not amused. I certainly will not be buying that toothpaste any time soon.