Low Levels Of Melamine found in US Baby Formula

[Bonkers]

   http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081126/us_nm/us_food_melamine_infants_5    This next article contradicts the previous statement that low amounts of melamine are safe. Back in October the FDA had said that no amount of melamine was safe in baby formula.   http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4926W220081003

[coontuffy]

Here's more information.
Also talking about cyanuric acid in one formula

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7SAbhJj3By_isZUoRAgTOPHzwkQD94M8T7G1

[Bonkers]

    Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday set a threshold of 1 part per million of melamine in formula, provided a related chemical isn't present. They insisted the formulas are safe.

The setting of the standard comes days after The Associated Press reported that FDA tests found traces of melamine in the infant formula of one major U.S. manufacturer and cyanuric acid, a chemical relative, in the formula of a second major maker. The contaminated samples, which both measured at levels below the new standard, were analyzed several weeks ago.

The FDA had stated in early October that it was unable to set a safety contamination level for melamine in infant formula.

   Dr. Stephen Sundlof, FDA's director of food safety, said Friday the agency was confident in setting the 1 part per million level for either of the chemicals alone. although there has been no new scientific studies since October that would give regulators more safety data. He had no ready explanation for why the level wasn't set earlier.

                                           http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=6357398

[Perseus]

Good blogging going on from Deep Harm over at DAILY KOS regarding melamine contamination in baby formula now found in South Africa, made by Nestle, who admits it was caused by "contaminated animal feed" fed to dairy animals.

"Citing a report by Feedinfo News Service, Flexnews, an industry publication, writes that Nestle's conclusions give "credence to the possibility that the industrial chemical may be able to cross from the feed to the food chain" despite longstanding claims by US and other food safety officials that melamine is not transferred to meat and other animals products because it is excreted in urine.  Importantly, melamine is 66% nitrogen. Nitrogen is excreted in urine; but, also in milk. 

Full article:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/28/1316/0758/894/667293