Nov 26 2008
Melamine Found in US Infant Formula
After melamine was found in milk products from China, the Food and Drug Administration decided to test domestic formulas for traces of it. Melamine contamination was found in one brand. The F.D.A. declines to release the name of the formula. “The F.D.A. allows anything below 250 parts per billion of melamine in infant formula, and the sample contained less than that,” Judy Leon said. Ms. Leon is a Food and Drug Administration agent.
Melamine is a chemical that has flame retardant properties. It is sometimes illegally added to food as it can make it appear that it has more protein than it actually does.
It is suspected that the trace melamine was an accident — perhaps the formula accidentally came in contact with a can liner that was affected.
In low doses, melamine is nontoxic. However, in China it has been the cause of death of 4 infants who drank contaminated formula and sickened tens of thousands more.
