Trace Amounts of Melamine Found in USA Infant Formula
I was not too surprised when I read that trace amounts of melamine have been found in infant formulas in the USA. Recently, large amounts of the industrial chemical were found in Chinese infant formula products after thousands of infants became very ill after drinking the formula. Several infants actually died.
In the case of the formula in the United States, what surprised me was that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to identify the formulas that contained the chemical and insisted that trace amounts of the chemical were insignificant and that it would be a “dangerous overreaction” for parents to stop feeding the formula to their children. The FDA further claims that the contamination occurred during the product processing, and was not intentionally added to the product.
WHAT? Does it really make a difference how it got there?
According to The Associated Press, which gathered information un the Freedom of Information Act, the FDA detected melamine in a sample of one “popular” formula and the presence of cyanuric acid in another formula. Cyanuric acid is similar to meaamine.
The chemical was found according to the report in the formulas produced by three firms–Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson. These companies produce about 90% of infant formula in the United States.
Although no exposure level has been established by the FDA, officials insist that trace levels of the chemical are safe. Some experts claim that scientific evidence shows that low levels of melamine are always present in certain foods and that trace amounts of the chemical pose no health risk and shouldn’t cause alarm. Other experts insist that since no safe exposure level has been established, no amount of the chemical should be tolerated. These experts argue that the FDA should begin recalling the infant formula which contain the trace amounts of melamine, and insist upon a zero tolerance policy for melamine levels in infant formula.
What do you think? Do these finding concern you? Do you think that trace amounts of the chemical in formula should pose no great health risk to infants?
Read More
Kelly says...
I have switch formulas…i think it should be the parents decision not the FDA’s decision. I am responsible for my children where I wish I could have nursed them longer I did eventually turn to formula I was feeding Enfamil but have read that this is the one with traces of cyanuric acid. I am not willing to take the chance with my child and have switch to Similac for now until they find something wrong with that one…hopefully not until after January when my infant will be off formula…then I must decide what to do about my future children….ughghghgh