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Information from the World Health Organisation (WHO)
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan_events/en/index.html
Information from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/
Important Notice to SFI members Regarding Chinese Infant Formula and Other Milk Products
The United States and other governments advised consumers that infant formula made by the Chinese company Sanlu was found to be contaminated with melamine and more than 54,000 of infants in China have been sickened, with 4 deaths reported. Since then, other contaminated liquid milk and milk products sourced from China have been found in countries outside of China.
Safe Food International wants to make you aware of this large recall, so that you can ask for governmental action if these products are found in your country.
Recall issued for:
Recalls were first issued for infant formula made by Sanlu wherever distributed, and was extended to most Chinese milk products as new products containing melamine were discovered.
Illnesses:
In China as of September 24, 2008, four infants have died, 54,000 sickened, and 12,892 babies are in hospitals with 58 of those suffering from acute kidney failure. Outside of mainland China, there have been 5 cases of children with kidney stones.
Contaminant:
Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure, especially when mixed with other chemicals. It has no nutritional value but is high in nitrogen, making products with it appear higher in protein. Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk to cover up the resulting protein deficiency.
Source:
Sanlu Group Co., is the largest producer of infant formula involved in the recall
The tainted milk came from China’s two largest dairy producers: Mengniu Dairy Group Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co. A third dairy, the Shanghai-based Bright Dairy, also showed contamination.
An additional 22 Chinese dairy companies have tested positive for melamine in their products
Affected Regions:
Reports indicate that most of the suspect dairy products were sold in the People’s Republic of China, Yemen, Bangladesh, Burma, Gabon and Burundi.
Additionally, two of the companies exported dairy products to five countries in Asia and Africa.
Other products such as milk, yogurt and ice cream went to Hong Kong.
International Standards:
Government Action on Melamine-Contaminated Food
The following governments have issued limits for melamine in food:
Australia/New Zealand:
The maximum melamine levels in food set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) include 1 mg/kg in infant formula and 2.5 mg/kg in dairy-based foods and ingredients. A level above 2.5 mg/kg is indicative of food adulteration. Relatively low levels of adulteration in infant formula will cause the infant to exceed the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), especially when only consuming formula. Foods with low levels of dairy based ingredients are consumed in small amounts that are not considered to be a high-risk for exceeding the TDI.
New Zealand
New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) issued a statement saying that foods containing melamine at low levels have no health risks for consumers. For infant formula, the level of melamine is currently set at the level of detection of 1 ppm. For other foods, the level is 2.5 ppm before regulatory action is considered. If there are foods that exceed these levels, an investigation will be initiated.
Canada:
According to Health Canada, melamine is not allowed for human consumption. It cannot be used in infant formula or food ingredients.
USA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded following a risk assessment that levels of melamine and its analogues below 2.5 ppm in foods other than infant formula do not raise public health concerns, applying a protection factor of 1000 to the “no observable effects level” in animals.
Note: The European Union has set a tolerable level for human consumption (mg/kg bodyweight) but has not set a tolerable level of melamine in food products (ppm).
Europe:
The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide urgent scientific advice on health risks for European consumers related to the possible presence of melamine in composite foods containing milk or milk products originating from China. On September 25, 2008, EFSA’s scientists issued a statement saying that if adults in Europe were to consume chocolates or biscuits containing contaminated milk powder, they would not exceed the TDI of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight. EFSA applied the TDI of 0.5 mg/kg body weight for melamine in a specific case of contamination in 2007. In worst case scenarios with the highest level of contamination, EFSA warned that children who consume high levels of milk toffee, chocolate, or biscuits containing milk power would exceed the TDI. Furthermore, children consuming both biscuits and chocolate could potentially exceed the TDI by more than threefold.
Recalls in the World:
Timeline
China – Melamine Time \ line
14 November 2008
BBC [edited]
10 Sept: China reveals that 14 babies fell ill in Gansu province over the previous two months. All drank the same brand of milk powder. Cases start being reported around China.
12 Sept: Sanlu Group admits that its milk powder was contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine.
13 Sept: Production halts at Sanlu Group. Nineteen people are arrested.
15 Sept : Beijing confirms two babies have died. Vice-President of the Sanlu Group apologises to the public.
19 Sept: Melamine is found in ordinary milk from three well-known dairies. One of the firms involved - Mengniu dairy - recalls all its products.
22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to 53,000, and the death toll to at least four. The head of China's quality watchdog resigns, becoming the first national leader to step down because of the scandal.
23 Sept: Countries across Asia start to either test Chinese dairy products or pull them from shops.
26 Sept: The EU bans Chinese baby food with milk traces. Sales of the popular sweet White Rabbit are halted after tests detect melamine.
29 Sept: Cadbury recalls products in Asia after tests find traces of melamine. Reports say 22 people have been arrested in Hebei province, suspected of introducing melamine into the supply chain.
15 Oct: Nearly 6,000 infants remain in hospital across China for kidney diseases. Six are in a serious condition.
21 Oct: About 1,500 racoon dogs bred for their fur on a farm in China die of kidney failure after eating feed tainted with melamine.
23 Oct: Six more people are arrested in connection with the tainted milk scandal.
26 Oct: Hong Kong authorities discover eggs produced by Dalian Hanwei Group's eggs contain melamine. They are pulled off the shelves.
30 Oct: Two more egg brands from Shanxi and Hubei provinces are found to contain melamine.
31 Oct: State media admit that melamine is probably being routinely added to Chinese animal feed.
2 Nov: A Chinese official insists the egg scandal is an individual case and clamps down on illegal producers of feed.
14 Nov: The US issues a nationwide "import alert" for Chinese-made food products.
- Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China - WHO update 2
29 Sep 2008
World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) disease outbreak news [edited] [Promed]
More than 54 000 infants and young children have sought medical treatment in relation to the melamine-contaminated dairy products in China, causing kidney stone; 3 deaths among infants have been confirmed, more than 13 000 infants are in hospital. Kidney stones in infants are normally very rare.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published "Melamine and Cyanuric acid: Toxicity, Preliminary Risk Assessment and Guidance on Levels in Food."
This preliminary guidance was developed to assist national authorities in the decision-making process on deciding possible health concerns of melamine levels in food.
This preliminary guidance is proposed as a first pragmatic approach until more data become available, which would allow a more detailed assessment.
For more information
- Questions and Answers on melamine
< http://www.who.int/entity/csr/media/faq/QAmelamine/en/index.html >
- Melamine-contamination event, China, September 2008
< http://www.who.int/entity/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan_events/en/index.html >
- WHO page on breastfeeding
< http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/index.html >
- Guidelines for the safe preparation, storage, and handling of
powdered infant formula
< http://www.who.int/entity/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif2007/en/index.html >
Sources:
Los Angeles Times. "China's product-quality chief resigns over tainted infant formula" September 22, 2008
http://www.latime.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china23-2008sep23,0,33445.story
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Issues Health Information Advisory on Infant Formula
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01883.html
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/melaminerecalls100908.html
Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press. "How was Chinese baby formula chemically tainted?" September 18, 2008. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKE85WHtFAhWYxFKIunz7QJy8QVwD939CH080
Tini Tran, Associated Press. "China says some liquid milk also tainted." September 19, 2008.
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/world/asia/27china
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20081008e.shtml
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan_events/en/index.html
Information from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/
Important Notice to SFI members Regarding Chinese Infant Formula and Other Milk Products
The United States and other governments advised consumers that infant formula made by the Chinese company Sanlu was found to be contaminated with melamine and more than 54,000 of infants in China have been sickened, with 4 deaths reported. Since then, other contaminated liquid milk and milk products sourced from China have been found in countries outside of China.
Safe Food International wants to make you aware of this large recall, so that you can ask for governmental action if these products are found in your country.
Recall issued for:
Recalls were first issued for infant formula made by Sanlu wherever distributed, and was extended to most Chinese milk products as new products containing melamine were discovered.
Illnesses:
In China as of September 24, 2008, four infants have died, 54,000 sickened, and 12,892 babies are in hospitals with 58 of those suffering from acute kidney failure. Outside of mainland China, there have been 5 cases of children with kidney stones.
Contaminant:
Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure, especially when mixed with other chemicals. It has no nutritional value but is high in nitrogen, making products with it appear higher in protein. Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk to cover up the resulting protein deficiency.
Source:
Sanlu Group Co., is the largest producer of infant formula involved in the recall
The tainted milk came from China’s two largest dairy producers: Mengniu Dairy Group Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co. A third dairy, the Shanghai-based Bright Dairy, also showed contamination.
An additional 22 Chinese dairy companies have tested positive for melamine in their products
Affected Regions:
Reports indicate that most of the suspect dairy products were sold in the People’s Republic of China, Yemen, Bangladesh, Burma, Gabon and Burundi.
Additionally, two of the companies exported dairy products to five countries in Asia and Africa.
Other products such as milk, yogurt and ice cream went to Hong Kong.
International Standards:
Government Action on Melamine-Contaminated Food
The following governments have issued limits for melamine in food:
Australia/New Zealand:
The maximum melamine levels in food set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) include 1 mg/kg in infant formula and 2.5 mg/kg in dairy-based foods and ingredients. A level above 2.5 mg/kg is indicative of food adulteration. Relatively low levels of adulteration in infant formula will cause the infant to exceed the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), especially when only consuming formula. Foods with low levels of dairy based ingredients are consumed in small amounts that are not considered to be a high-risk for exceeding the TDI.
New Zealand
New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) issued a statement saying that foods containing melamine at low levels have no health risks for consumers. For infant formula, the level of melamine is currently set at the level of detection of 1 ppm. For other foods, the level is 2.5 ppm before regulatory action is considered. If there are foods that exceed these levels, an investigation will be initiated.
Canada:
According to Health Canada, melamine is not allowed for human consumption. It cannot be used in infant formula or food ingredients.
USA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded following a risk assessment that levels of melamine and its analogues below 2.5 ppm in foods other than infant formula do not raise public health concerns, applying a protection factor of 1000 to the “no observable effects level” in animals.
Note: The European Union has set a tolerable level for human consumption (mg/kg bodyweight) but has not set a tolerable level of melamine in food products (ppm).
Europe:
The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide urgent scientific advice on health risks for European consumers related to the possible presence of melamine in composite foods containing milk or milk products originating from China. On September 25, 2008, EFSA’s scientists issued a statement saying that if adults in Europe were to consume chocolates or biscuits containing contaminated milk powder, they would not exceed the TDI of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight. EFSA applied the TDI of 0.5 mg/kg body weight for melamine in a specific case of contamination in 2007. In worst case scenarios with the highest level of contamination, EFSA warned that children who consume high levels of milk toffee, chocolate, or biscuits containing milk power would exceed the TDI. Furthermore, children consuming both biscuits and chocolate could potentially exceed the TDI by more than threefold.
Recalls in the World:
- Yashili-1, Yashili-2, and Sweet Baby-2 powdered milk brands made in China
- Blue Cat Flavor Drinks: On Oct. 6, 2008, FDA announced that it had detected melamine contamination in Blue Cat Flavor Drinks. The distributor of the product, Tristar Food Wholesale Co. Inc., has initiated a recall of several flavors.
- Mr. Brown Coffee and Milk Tea Products: On Sept. 26, 2008, FDA issued an alert that seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products were being recalled by the Taiwanese company, King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd., due to possible contamination with melamine. King Car Food Industrial Co. used a nondairy creamer manufactured by Shandong Duqing Inc., China, which was found to be contaminated with melamine.
The recalled products are:
Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend Instant Coffee (2-in-1)
Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1) Sunny Maid Corp., Monterey Park, Calif., an importer and distributor of Mr. Brown instant coffee products, is recalling the products in the United States. http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/melaminerecalls100908.html
- White Rabbit Creamy Candies: Oct 9, the California Department of Public Health and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority reported that their testing of White Rabbit Creamy Candies has shown melamine contamination at high levels. A recall by QFCO Inc., Burlingame, Calif., distributor of the White Rabbit Creamy Candies, is underway in the United States. http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/melaminerecalls100908.html
- Sherwood Brands Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins. October 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume, distribute, or sell the Sherwood Brands Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins. This product is being recalled due to positive test results for melamine conducted by the CFIA. CFIA consumer advisory: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20081008e.shtml
- YILI Brand sour milk drink and YILI brand pure milk drink: October 17, HUA XIA Food Trade USA, Inc. recalls YILI Brand sour milk drink and YILI brand pure milk drink. FDA Firm Press Release: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/huaxia10_08.html
- The Thai restaurant and bakery S&P said on Tuesday [14 Oct 2008] it was withdrawing a line of milk cookies sold in Thailand after reports that Swiss officials had found traces of melamine in the biscuits.
- Chocolate products from the Nestle and Mars companies are being removed urgently from retail stores in South Korea. Melamine has been found also in Kit-Kat chocolate products, which are manufactured by Nestle, according to an announcement of the South Korean food quality control service.
- ITAR-TASS reports detection of high melanin content in lot of Nestle coffee powder in a Dyal city warehouse in the central region of Pesht in Hungary. The coffee came from Bangkok. 2.7 mg of melamine was found in each 1 kg of product, which is above the permitted amount of 2.5 mg.
- Tainted Eggs From China Discovered in Hong Kong: October 26, Hong Kong food inspectors have found eggs imported from northeast China to be contaminated with high levels of melamine. The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/world/asia/27china
Timeline
China – Melamine Time \ line
14 November 2008
BBC [edited]
10 Sept: China reveals that 14 babies fell ill in Gansu province over the previous two months. All drank the same brand of milk powder. Cases start being reported around China.
12 Sept: Sanlu Group admits that its milk powder was contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine.
13 Sept: Production halts at Sanlu Group. Nineteen people are arrested.
15 Sept : Beijing confirms two babies have died. Vice-President of the Sanlu Group apologises to the public.
19 Sept: Melamine is found in ordinary milk from three well-known dairies. One of the firms involved - Mengniu dairy - recalls all its products.
22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to 53,000, and the death toll to at least four. The head of China's quality watchdog resigns, becoming the first national leader to step down because of the scandal.
23 Sept: Countries across Asia start to either test Chinese dairy products or pull them from shops.
26 Sept: The EU bans Chinese baby food with milk traces. Sales of the popular sweet White Rabbit are halted after tests detect melamine.
29 Sept: Cadbury recalls products in Asia after tests find traces of melamine. Reports say 22 people have been arrested in Hebei province, suspected of introducing melamine into the supply chain.
15 Oct: Nearly 6,000 infants remain in hospital across China for kidney diseases. Six are in a serious condition.
21 Oct: About 1,500 racoon dogs bred for their fur on a farm in China die of kidney failure after eating feed tainted with melamine.
23 Oct: Six more people are arrested in connection with the tainted milk scandal.
26 Oct: Hong Kong authorities discover eggs produced by Dalian Hanwei Group's eggs contain melamine. They are pulled off the shelves.
30 Oct: Two more egg brands from Shanxi and Hubei provinces are found to contain melamine.
31 Oct: State media admit that melamine is probably being routinely added to Chinese animal feed.
2 Nov: A Chinese official insists the egg scandal is an individual case and clamps down on illegal producers of feed.
14 Nov: The US issues a nationwide "import alert" for Chinese-made food products.
- Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China - WHO update 2
29 Sep 2008
World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) disease outbreak news [edited] [Promed]
More than 54 000 infants and young children have sought medical treatment in relation to the melamine-contaminated dairy products in China, causing kidney stone; 3 deaths among infants have been confirmed, more than 13 000 infants are in hospital. Kidney stones in infants are normally very rare.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published "Melamine and Cyanuric acid: Toxicity, Preliminary Risk Assessment and Guidance on Levels in Food."
This preliminary guidance was developed to assist national authorities in the decision-making process on deciding possible health concerns of melamine levels in food.
This preliminary guidance is proposed as a first pragmatic approach until more data become available, which would allow a more detailed assessment.
For more information
- Questions and Answers on melamine
< http://www.who.int/entity/csr/media/faq/QAmelamine/en/index.html >
- Melamine-contamination event, China, September 2008
< http://www.who.int/entity/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan_events/en/index.html >
- WHO page on breastfeeding
< http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/index.html >
- Guidelines for the safe preparation, storage, and handling of
powdered infant formula
< http://www.who.int/entity/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif2007/en/index.html >
Sources:
Los Angeles Times. "China's product-quality chief resigns over tainted infant formula" September 22, 2008
http://www.latime.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china23-2008sep23,0,33445.story
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Issues Health Information Advisory on Infant Formula
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01883.html
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/melaminerecalls100908.html
Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press. "How was Chinese baby formula chemically tainted?" September 18, 2008. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKE85WHtFAhWYxFKIunz7QJy8QVwD939CH080
Tini Tran, Associated Press. "China says some liquid milk also tainted." September 19, 2008.
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/world/asia/27china
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20081008e.shtml
jacqie |
Latest page update: made by jacqie
, Dec 10 2008, 4:14 PM EST
(about this update
About This Update
melamine update
- jacqie
4 words added 4 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
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