According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), melamine and melamine-analogs have been detected in a large number of products coming from China. Cyanuric acid, which forms a toxic compound when coupled with melamine, has also been detected in various products. Over 50 milk or milk-derived products, milk derived ingredients, and finished food products containing milk are now flagged by the FDA for possible melamine and cyanuric acid contamination. The list of products includes candy, beverages, bakery products, and baby food.
All milk products, all milk-derived ingredients, and finished food products containing milk from China will be detained until they have been tested by a third-party laboratory. Importers must show through the testing that at least 5 consecutive shipments meet the minimum standard for melamine and cyanuric acid. The FDA allows 2.5ppm of melamine in human food.
Melamine contamination reports have been issued by over 13 countries in Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia. The FDA has received information from foreign governments in several countries that a wide range and variety of products have been manufactured using melamine-contaminated milk or milk-derived ingredients.
Some of those products include fluid and powdered milk, yogurt, frozen desserts, biscuits, cakes and cookies, taffy-like soft candy products, chocolates, and beverages. All the products the FDA has been alerted about by foreign governments originated in China.
Scandals involving imported products from China poisoned with melamine are not new. In 2007, bulk vegetable protein products imported from China appeared to have been deliberately contaminated with melamine and melamine analogs.
Read the entire Food and Drug Adminstration Import Alert.
