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FDA sets melamine standard for baby formula
San Luis Obispo Tribune ^ | Nov. 29, 2008 | JOAN LOWY and JUSTIN PRITCHARD

Posted on 11/29/2008 11:13:25 AM PST by neverdem

Edited on 11/29/2008 1:02:28 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Two months ago, federal food regulators said they were unable to set a safety threshold for the industrial chemical melamine in baby formula. Now, however, they found a way to settle on a standard that allows for higher levels than those found in U.S.-made batches of the product. Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday set a threshold of 1 part per million of melamine in formula, provided a related chemical is not present. They insisted the formulas are safe.


(Excerpt) Read more at sanluisobispo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cyanuricacid; fda; foodsafety; foodsupply; health; melamine; trade

1 posted on 11/29/2008 11:13:25 AM PST by neverdem
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To: neverdem

why does there have to be ANY melamine in baby formula? Why is it so hard to set a standard? Sometimes it seems like the world has just gone mad.


2 posted on 11/29/2008 11:15:38 AM PST by Awestruck (Now if we can only get the rest of the "republican" leaders to stand up to the liberals.)
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To: Awestruck

A US manufacture should step in a offer Melamine Free label. Parent would buy it at any cost.


3 posted on 11/29/2008 11:20:57 AM PST by Orange1998
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To: Awestruck

For those who don’t really know what it is or why it was added to milk:
http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/melamine-in-milk.html


4 posted on 11/29/2008 11:21:10 AM PST by brytlea (You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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To: Orange1998

Probably. Or they could breast feed.


5 posted on 11/29/2008 11:21:53 AM PST by brytlea (You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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To: neverdem

How about NONE?


6 posted on 11/29/2008 11:22:31 AM PST by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: neverdem

parts per trillion, parts per quadrillion?

NONE...ZIP...ZERO...NADA!!!!


7 posted on 11/29/2008 11:29:15 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: brytlea

Ya can’t beat those nice containers.


8 posted on 11/29/2008 11:30:24 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Vaquero

I never thought much about it.


9 posted on 11/29/2008 11:32:00 AM PST by brytlea (You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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To: All

It’s been a very long time, but I am glad I breastfed my babies.

Wake up, parents of babies!

Breastfeeding is better.


10 posted on 11/29/2008 11:32:07 AM PST by Joya (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, have mercy on me, a sinner.)
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To: neverdem

How about requiring country of origin listed for all ingredients?

Or forbidding Chinese origin ingredients?


11 posted on 11/29/2008 11:34:40 AM PST by heartwood
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To: neverdem

So melamine is used to fake the levels of protein? This is the government we get when China holds our debt. If it were a domestic manufacturer putting this poison in our food...never mind. I give up.


12 posted on 11/29/2008 11:37:48 AM PST by optiguy (Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.----- Ronald Reagan)
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To: brytlea

I bet it was added because it gives a false positive reading in chemical tests for higher quality milk protein content, thus higher price. THe Chinese knew exactly what they were doing.


13 posted on 11/29/2008 12:16:24 PM PST by Gaffer
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To: Travis McGee; archy; Squantos
The standard is the same as the one public health officials have set in Canada and China,

Well I know I feel better. Don't you?

14 posted on 11/29/2008 12:29:14 PM PST by Lurker ("America is at that awkward stage. " Claire Wolfe, call your office.)
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To: Awestruck
why does there have to be ANY melamine in baby formula?

Because of the assumption that "the dose makes the poison."

15 posted on 11/29/2008 1:11:44 PM PST by neverdem (Xin loi min oi)
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To: optiguy

If I recall, last year’s pet-food scandal was also chinese-adultered with melamine to get protein levels up.

Problem with capitalism is that it involves a novel thing called TRUST. Break trust and you’re through as a business. Problem with that is the government is either not doing its job, doing it poorly, or lying for political purposes. Hard to tell which.... This is what global economy will get you when cheaters, liars, thieves, or inept people are in charge (sound like the definition of a bureaucrat??). The theoretical never takes chaos into account.

Vast, vast problem. Milk and pet food are only the starters.


16 posted on 11/29/2008 1:22:22 PM PST by TrueFact
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To: Gaffer

Yes, it talks about that in the article. I thought maybe some people would like to know why it gives a higher protein reading.


17 posted on 11/29/2008 1:46:13 PM PST by brytlea (You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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To: Gaffer

Your standard assay is nitrogen content, which is a tried and true analytical method. Nitrogen content normally correlates to protein levels. Melamine is by no means a protein, but it has a heck of a high nitrogen level. It is the same as putting your thumb on the scale.

Setting a level of zero is tricky. As detection limits get lower and lower you can find almost anything if you look closely enough. It should be pretty easy to figure a level that amounts to adulteration.


18 posted on 11/29/2008 1:47:42 PM PST by organicchemist
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