Comments on: Melamine Contaminated Milk

By: jean

jean — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:48 +0000

milk or breastfeeding for chinese infants????????????

By: Offy

Offy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:49:30 +0000

RE: Melamine Dishes & Utensils

Back last year some countries (Kuwait in the link below) were banning Melamine utensils/dishes due to cheap glazing wearing off and allegedly increasing exposure to the toxins.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\06\story_6-9-2007_pg7_34

“A large number of organic compounds are toxic and melamine is also considered toxic, the official said. A layer of glazing powder is used to prevent contact with the human body but with use the utensils lose this protective layer and thus can be harmful to humans, the official added. ”

“Dr Bilal of Services Hospital, said that the number of patients complaining of intestine, stomach and throat problems is on the rise. He said that modern research has shown melamine and formaldehyde are responsible for such diseases. The government should ban this industry or regulate the industry to ensure higher quality products.”

“Rana Rizwan, a melamine utensil factory owner, said melamine costs Rs 115 per kg and so by mixing starch (kuluf), which costs Rs 35 per kg, the production costs of utensils is lowered. The producers also apply a lower quantity of glazing to the utensils to reduce costs, he added. Both these result in lower quality of the product and the glazing soon wears off, he added. “

By: SimonPure

SimonPure — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:35:08 +0000

@paul said on September 30

“One source I read says the farmers add urea”

I can think of a very cheap and widely available source of urea…

By: KIm C

KIm C — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:13:06 +0000

Thanks for a great insight into the current melamine issue. One thing I was thinking when reading is that since approx 80%of Chinese are lactose intolerant (quoting Wikipedia), they may be using soy based formula instead of milk based and that could account for the relatively low numbers.

As a mom to 2 kids adopted from China and whose family (of 5) is currently now living in China, this is an issue that is very close to my heart. I appreciate your insight and will be checking back for updates.
Thanks.

By: U L Abdul Raheem

U L Abdul Raheem — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:58:34 +0000

Regarding this Melamine, a world wide awareness should be done because to increase the nitrogen content & fool the tests for protein level in Milk formula the Melamine is added by producers. Same application is possible for Animal feed also. Eg. Fishmeal & soymeal are added to poultry feed and certain crude protein level is maintained in poultry-Broiler chicken feed at different ages. Usually this fishmeal raw material should consist of about 65% crude protein and Soyameal should consist of about 48% crude protein, so the suppliers or producers of this fishmeal & soyameal may add melamine to increase or fool the test for protein level. There is a possibility for that this Melamine get accumulate in chicken muscles which consume the above feed and reach human body finally.

so this is very important to find ways to get rid of this contamination.

U L Abdul Raheem
KUWAIT

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:28:00 +0000

AS long as we continue to import food products from a country sworn to destroy US then we are getting just what we deserve. I’m sorry but, if all that is important is the profits realized by the companies and not the safety of the population in general then it’s too bad. If we ever go to war with China we will have to do it barefoot. All the shoe manufacturers have gone there also. All your computer boards are made there. They don’t need spys. Just wait we’ll give it to them to build for us.

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:52:03 +0000

UPDATE: 22 arrested in China over melamine contamination. Cookies in Netherlands found to be contaminated. Milk testing sadly lacking

By: Dr. Brian Evans

Dr. Brian Evans — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:12:29 +0000

I have linked to your article from my blog after being asked a question from a reader and wanted to let you know. Thank you for a fine article.

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:05:37 +0000

Its solubility is 3 grams per litre at 20 Celsius. Compare that to benzene, which is 0.8 g/l @ 25 Celsius and sucrose (sugar) which is 2115 at 20 Celsius.

By: paul

paul — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:00:17 +0000

I am still puzzled at how the raw milk suppliers add melamine into their diluted milk if melamine is not very soluable in water? One source I read says the farmers add urea and then when milk is turned to powder in high heat, the urea turns into melamine. But then when you add hot water and feed it to an infant, the melamine can still dissolve? Or is it only a small enough amount that it dissolves?