: Melamine Contamination of Infant Formula in China: The Causes, Food Safety Issues and Public Health Implications
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Date
2008
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Abstract
Melamine - an industrial chemical - was recently found in infant formula in China but it has since spiralled to other food categories that use milk powder as an ingredient, such as chocolate, biscuits and eggs. As of September 21, 2008, a total of 52,857 cases of nephrolithiasis (and, in some instances, renal failure) had been reported in China linked to consumption of this contaminated powdered formula. There have been approximately 13,000 hospitalizations, and at least 4 deaths confirmed to date. The vast majority of illnesses involved children under the age of 3 years (82% < 2 years; 17% 2-3 years; 0.8% > 3 years; and no cases involved adults). The results of an investigation conducted in China indicated that Chinese-produced powdered infant formula was linked to these illnesses; no cases were associated with liquid infant formula. An investigation of powdered formulas was conducted nationally by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and revealed contaminant ion of powdered formulas produced by 22 companies. Test results conducted in China on samples of the powdered infant formula showed that they contained a wide range of concentrations (0.1 ppm to greater than 2,500 ppm melamine powder. In addition, other countries have reported detection of melamine in other product categories, such as confections and beverages. Generally, there are available analytical methods that can reliably detect a level of 1 ppm melamine in some food matrices.
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Melamine, Food Safety, Infant Formular, China