Here is important news for anyone who is currently using infant formula. The Associated Press is reporting that traces of the industrial chemical Melamine has been found in the top-selling brands of infant formula. Melamine is the chemical that was found in formula from China as well as some chocolates. The Chinese formula has been linked to the deaths of at least three infants and the illness if more than 50,000 others.
The Food and Drug Administration is urging parents and caregivers not to stop using formula because this would be a dangerous overreaction to keep formula away from babies who depend on it. Changing the baby’s diet could potentially be dangerous they say. Although no safe levels of the chemical have been determined, the amount of Melamine found in some U.S. formula is drastically lower than the amounts present in the Chinese formula. No U.S. illnesses have been reported.
AP reports that it obtained previously undisclosed tests through the Freedom of Information Act that revealed that the FDA had discovered the Melamine in the formula and in some cases, cyanuric acid, a chemical that is related to Melamine. One manufacturer told AP that their in-house tests also detected trace amounts of Melamine.
Traces of Melamine has been found in formula made by Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson. These companies make 90 percent of all U.S. baby formula.
How did the Melamine get into the baby formula? Most likely this occurred somewhere in the packaging or manufacturing process. Melamine is used in some plastics and also in cleaners that may have been used to clean the factory equipment.
In comparison, it was found that in China, Melamine was intentionally added to water down milk to fool food quality tests into thinking it had a higher level of protein. This milk was used to make formula and other products.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
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