Melamine and baby formula

The FDA originally offered no limit on the amount of melamine that would be safe in infant formula.

However the latest release from the FDA, suggested that infants should not be at risk if ingesting formula with levels of melamine below 1ppm.

The World Health Organization and Canada's Health Organization set similar limits.

Research is still being conducted in animal studies on the effect of melamine in the diet and its analogue cyanuric acid.

Cyanuric acid may be present as impurities in melamine. Research and early tests, including investigation on the pet food contamination with melamine that harmed many pets, suggest that the greatest concern should be the combination of melamine adn cyanuric acid.

Test results on formula produced in the U.S. showed only one or the other at very low levels in a couple of products tested. The level of melamine was .14 ppm in one and cyanuric acid at .247 ppm in another. Both are well below the acceptable level set by the FDA.

Should you be concerned? Yes, you should always be concerned with what you feed your family and ingest yourself.

Often we find that products contain ingredients that are not listed on the ingredient label. In particular, we need the same level of criticality that we impose on our own manufacturers, imposed on our imports. The imports should also be investigated for those that are used as ingredients for other products.

Normally, food manufacturers assume that these ingredients must be safe.

Also, be concerned for small companies that do not have a quality program or funding to have adequate testing done on their products.

More research and investigation need to be performed. Not only are you what you eat, the plants and animals that eventually end up in our food supply are what they eat. When the soil, water, fertilizers, nutrients are contaminated, the hay, corn, vegetables can be contaminated and the animals which consume them can be contaminated.

Be safe and ask questions. Your health depends on it.

Rudy