First the Toys then the Pets then the Kids…Toxic Baby Formula

In the last couple of years, it seems as if there has been an increase in the recalls issued by the FDA; contact lens solutions, tainted meat, poisonous vegetables, toxic toys and poisonous pet food to name just a few. In response to concerns over the recent headlines“Infant Formula from China Tainted by Chemical”, the FDA has issued a warning that toxic baby formula “even though it is not legally approved for importation” may have made its way into local markets here in the USA.

The concerning chemical in the formula is melamine. As some of you may recall Melamine is the same chemical associated with the massive pet food recall in 2007 after thousands of U.S dogs and cats were poisoned and killed after ingesting toxic pet food. It was later determined, according to veterinary pathologists, “that the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid caused crystals to form in the urinary tracts of animals” leading to their untimely death.

As we have seen in the world of dietary supplements, manufactures and suppliers in China use the” nitrogen rich” Melamine to make the product appear to be containing more protein than it actually does to pass  the standard tests for protein ingredient  in bulk foods. The additive Melamine makes the product “appear to be gluten” and they are then sold “as gluten” to pet food manufacturers U.S. and Canadian.

Melamine causes chronic toxicity and “Ingestion of melamine may lead to reproductive damage, or bladder or kidney stones, which can lead to bladder cancer”.
Although the press release by the FDA cited that there is no “known threat” it is also not “known” as to whether or not some of the contaminated product has found it’s way into specialty stores in the USA. Although not very reassuring, they do urge  “Individuals should contact their health care professional if they have questions regarding their infant’s health or if they note changes in their infant’s health status.”

There have been many reports in the past decade over contaminated baby food and formula ranging from salmonella to this most  recent contamination threat of formula found to contain melamine, which has been cited as the culprit in China for babies developing serious kidney problems. CBC News reported that spokesman Mao Qunan stated, the agency investigators concluded the chemical (Melamine) was added when the milk was purchased from farmers but gave no other details. Quanan said, 78 “suspicious people” were summoned for questioning. Sanlu Group, the major Chinese dairy that produced the formula, has recalled 700 tons of the products, the Xinhua News Agency reported. “China Health Ministry issued a statement “Those responsible will face serious punishment.”