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FDA's Melamine Decision Scares Consumers

But experts see it as a positive sign

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 6, 2008

Infant Formula • FDA Blocks Chinese Products Over Melamine Fears • Melamine Scandal Continues to Expand • FDA's Melamine Decision Scares Consumers • DeLauro Raps FDA On Melamine Risk Guidelines • FDA Issues Report On Melamine and Food Safety • Melamine-Tainted Chinese Candy Shows Up in U.S. • Hershey's Says Chocolates Are Safe from Chinese Melamine Scandal • Cadbury Recalls Chinese-Made Chocolates Due to Melamine • Melamine Scare Spreads to Mr. Brown Coffee • Chinese Gorillas Fall Ill as Melamine Scandal Widens • FDA Updates Chinese Infant Formula Warning • Asian Baby Death Toll From Infant Formula Rises • FDA Issues Warning on Chinese-Made Infant Formula • Texas Stops Sale of Mislabeled Infant Formula • Texas Halts Contaminated Infant Formula Shipments To Mexico • Chinese Infant Formula Alert

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent announcement that some melamine in food products does not pose a health risk is frightening to consumers like Mary W. of Kansas. But the head of a global food testing company applauds the FDA's decision, saying it means the US is now checking for this contaminant.

On Friday, the FDA said that levels of melamine below 2.5 parts per million (ppm) in food does not pose a health risk to humans. The only exception is infant formula.

The FDA said it is "currently unable to establish any level of melamine and melamine-related compounds in infant formula that does not raise public health concerns. There is too much uncertainty to set a level in infant formula and rule out any public health concern."

The agency added, "It is important to understand that this does not mean that any exposure to any detectable level of melamine and melamine–related compounds in formula will result in harm to infants."

The FDA released these findings--part of its safety and risk assessment of melamine and melamine-related companies in food--in response to the Chinese-milk scandal.

Earlier this month, Chinese officials discovered melamine in powered infant formula made it that country. That contamination is blamed for the recent deaths of four infants in China and the illnesses of 53,000 other children in that country.

Chinese officials learned some dairy plants may have intentionally added melamine to milk products to make them appear to have higher protein levels.

The melamine contamination has since spread from infant formula to dozens of other food products sold around the world, including candy, coffee, and pretzels.

Melamine is a chemical used to make plastic and fertilizers. It is blamed for the illnesses and deaths of thousands of dogs and cats in the United States last year.

Doctors say melamine can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure. That's why Kansas consumer Mary W. is outraged by the FDA's decision to allow any levels of melamine in her food.

"I think they (the FDA) have opened a Pandora's Box," she told ConsumerAffairs.com today. "They have basically said they are going to allow the food supply to be contaminated.

"It seems to me that rather than finding a way to make our food supply safer by not allowing any toxin, the FDA has found a way to allow some to come in to the food supply," said Mary, who lives in Baldwin City, Kansas. "That just scares me."

Michael Prinster, chief operation officer of Romer Labs, said he understands Mary's concerns, but he has another view on the FDA's decision.

"I think it's a positive action because it means we (the FDA) are now going to start testing things for melamine. That is a good thing."

"My bigger concern," he added, "is that someone spiked the food products with a known contaminant--and with no regard for the consequences."

Prinster's company runs safety tests for the food, feed, and agriculture industry around the world. The Union, Missouri-based company now has a commercial kit that tests for melamine in milk and milk powder.

Prinster said his company recently tested 124 bags of Chinese-made White Rabbit Creamy candy for that chemical.

"We didn't find anything," he said. "We've tested a lot of other foods---milk or milk-power based foods--off the store shelves and did not found any melamine in them."

But melamine has been found in Chinese-made products that contain milk or power-milk ingredients in the United States and other countries around the world, including the following cases:

• Officials in California and Connecticut confirm they found melamine=-tainted White Rabbit Creamy Candy in their states. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said the tainted candy was primarily found in Asian markets;

• Queensway Foods Company Inc. of California -- a U.S. distributor of White Rabbit Creamy Candy--recalled the products last week because of melamine contamination. The company distributed the candy in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington;

• Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority recalled the Chinese-made White Rabbit Creamy Candy after the products tested positive for melamine. It also said other Chinese-made food had tested positive for melamine, including Dutch Lady-brand banana and honeydew flavored milk, Silang-brand potato crackers, and two kinds of puffed rice balls;

• The New Zealand Food Safety Authority said it found high levels of melamine in Chinese-made White Rabbit Creamy Candy;

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently warn consumers not to eat, distribute, or sell White Rabbit candy because of possible melamine contamination;

• Canadian officials also warned consumers not to eat a popular brand of Chinese pretzels, which tested positive for melamine. The tainted products are Kaiser Strawberry Dressing Pretzels and Kaiser Choco Dressing Pretzels. The distributor of the pretzels, Dai Jung, has recalled the products;

• The British maker of the popular Cadbury candy has recalled 11 types of Chinese-made chocolates after the products tested positive for melamine. None of the Cadbury chocolates made in the US were involved in this action. The Hershey Company said it does not buy powered milk or other milk ingredients from China;

• The Taiwanese company that makes Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea has recalled seven of its products because of possible melamine contamination.

The FDA said it is not aware of any illnesses in the United States linked to the Chinese-made milk products products. It also said infant formula made in the United States is safe. Those companies are not importing formula or sourcing milk-based materials from China, the agency said.

FDA officials, however, warned consumers not to buy any Chinese-made infant formula. These products are often sold in Asian markets across the country. Meanwhile, the FDA said it will continue to screen imported products for melamine contamination.

"If products are adulterated because they contain melamine and/or a melamine-related compound, the agency will take appropriate actions to prevent the products from entering commerce," the FDA said in a written statement.

But those words offer little comfort to worried consumers like Mary in Kansas.

"I don't trust the FDA," she said, adding she has shared her concerns with her elected officials. "And now I'm struggling day-to-day on what to feed my family. When you go to the grocery story, how do you figure out what to buy?"

Mary has stopped buying any processed food and only eats meat sold by local farmers. She said she will continue to take these precautions until she is sure the food supply is safe.

But the FDA, she fears, can't give her that assurance anytime soon. "The FDA is galloping down a slippery slope."

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