(Melamine Suspected) Chinese Officials Say Baby Formula Tied to Kidney Stones

[3catkidneyfailure]

Australia Food Standards Agency site:

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2008/updateonmelamineinfo4050.cfm

Australian food safety agencies continue to actively investigate and respond to melamine contamination of some products containing dairy ingredients made in China and elsewhere. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is coordinating action among Federal, State and Territory food agencies ...

More than 50 products have been tested so far.  Test results to date have not detected the presence of melamine in any of these products, except for White Rabbit lollies.  As well, some industry associations are alerting regulatory bodies to information from their members on the sources of ingredients they use. The Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia has published a list of products and manufacturers which have stated their products do not use Chinese dairy ingredients contaminated with melamine:
see the confectionery list at http://www.candy.net.au/consumer-information.asp?pgID=644

[kittylyda]

I found this on Dick Durbin's website:


http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=303894


Durbin, DeLauro Press FDA on Contaminated Milk Investigation


Tuesday, September 30, 2008


[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday, asking for assurances that the FDA is proactively doing all it can to protect consumers from contaminated milk products from China.

"We are writing in response to the recent reports of milk products from China contaminated with melamine, the same industrial chemical involved in a series of pet food recalls in 2007.  A number of safety issues have emerged in recent years with respect to Chinese imports, such as pet food, seafood, and toothpaste.  This latest incident not only demonstrates that significant work remains for China to reform its food safety system, but raises serious questions about the FDA's ability to protect consumers and our food supply from hazardous products that originate overseas," Durbin and DeLauro wrote.

More than 54,000 have been sickened and 13,000 hospitalized in China in recent weeks as a result of melamine-tainted infant formula produced by Chinese dairy companies. The World Health Organization has said that a delay in reporting the contamination contributed to the magnitude of the incident. Authorities in both China and the US are investigating if other milk-based products are at risk of contamination.

On September 12, the FDA issued an advisory stating there was no known threat of contamination in infant formula being sold in the U.S. On September 26, the FDA updated its advisory to alert customers to a possible contamination Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products. FDA is currently testing other milk-based products imported from China to ensure that the melamine contamination has not spread to the US. No contaminated products or illnesses resulting from these products have been confirmed in the US.

Durbin and DeLauro are seeking information on the status of ongoing investigations and future plans for banning or recalling certain Chinese imports due to contamination.

A copy of the letter can be found below:


September 29, 2008

Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Commissioner
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857

Dear Dr. von Eschenbach:

We are writing in response to the recent reports of milk products from China contaminated with melamine, the same industrial chemical involved in a series of pet food recalls in 2007.  A number of safety issues have emerged in recent years with respect to Chinese imports, such as pet food, seafood, and toothpaste.  This latest incident not only demonstrates that significant work remains for China to reform its food safety system, but raises serious questions about the FDA's ability to protect consumers and our food supply from hazardous products that originate overseas.

To date, infant formula tainted with melamine has sickened 54,000, hospitalized 13,000, and caused the deaths of four infants in China.  Concerns over contamination have spread beyond infant formula to include processed foods that may contain milk-based ingredients produced in China.  In response, dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa have begun testing or banning Chinese imports containing dairy ingredients or recalling such products from off the shelves.

According to the World Health Organization, delays in reporting, including a deliberate failure to report, contributed to the magnitude of the incident.  News agencies report that Sanlu Group, one of 22 Chinese dairy companies producing tainted milk, received complaints as early as last December and became aware of a contamination in June.  But the company failed to notify the government until early August, and more than a month passed before an official investigation was launched.

On September 12, the FDA issued a Health Information Advisory to inform the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell such products in the United States.  On September 26, the FDA updated its advisory to alert customers to a possible contamination in Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products.  It is our understanding that the FDA is also testing milk-based products imported from China for melamine contamination, including dairy-based candies and desserts.

We appreciate the steps the FDA has taken to respond to this latest incident.  Yet, we are seeking assurances that the FDA is proactively doing everything in its power to protect the public health now, before contaminated products put consumers at risk.   As such, we ask that you answer the following questions:

1.      What is the status of the current investigation?

2.      Please provide a detailed timeline from when the FDA first learned about a potential contamination through the present that also details the actions taken in response.

3.      How many dairy products, or products containing dairy ingredients, were received by the U.S. from China in 2006, 2007, and 2008?

4.      How many of these imports were inspected by the FDA?

5.      Were any of these refused import?  For what reasons?  Did these concerns suggest a systemic risk?

6.      Does the FDA plan on banning certain Chinese imports or issuing recalls in response to the contamination?

7.      What changes in current law or funding levels are needed so that the FDA can best protect the public and the food supply from tainted imports?

8.      Please provide a status update on the implementation of the December 11, 2007 memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the United States and China with respect to food safety.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We ask that you provide a response within 20 days. 

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator                                                   

Rosa L. DeLauro
United States Representative

[catbird]

Good find, kittylyda.  You go, Durbin and DeLauro!

Although I wish they had given them far less than 20 days to respond.

[kittylyda]

I know, I was disappointed to see that they gave them 20 days also. But I'm glad Dick Durbin is still involved in the food safety issue.

[menusux]

Received an email alert from the CFIA website: not on the CFIA site itself yet but found this copy:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Canadian-Food-Inspection-Agency-905979.html

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Dai Jung Distributing are advising people not to consume the OK OK Kaiser pretzels described below. These products are being recalled due to a positive test result for melamine conducted by the CFIA."

Interesting thing I noticed here - it states melamine found in testing done by CFIA. Previous alerts did not explicitly state they had actually found any in their own testing; they seemed more like follow-ons to recalls initiated by other authorities.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/510075

The Star-Canada October 1, 2008

"A popular Chinese pretzel snack is being recalled after testing positive for melamine.

"The Canadian Food Inspection agency (CFIA) is warning consumers not to eat chocolate or strawberry-flavoured pretzels being sold under the OK OK brand. The items are being sold across Ontario and are imported by Scarborough distributor Dai Jung.

"The CFIA will continue monitoring as Dai Jung conducts a voluntary recall.

"The products are labelled:

Kaiser Strawberry Dressing Pretzel

UPC 4 710757 036608

Approx. 40 g

Kaiser Choco Dressing Pretzel

UPC 4 710757 036301

50 g

There are no lot codes associated with the products"

[straybaby]

Can't remember if this was posted:

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2008/09/29/daily13.html

Heinz to stop using Chinese milk in its products
New Mexico Business Weekly

H.J. Heinz Co. will stop using milk from China in its products, the company announced Monday.

The decision comes amid concerns about melamine contamination.

"In order to reassure consumers about the safety of Heinz products, Heinz has made the strategic decision to switch our milk supply in China and Hong Kong to non-Chinese sources," the company said in a statement. "We are testing all dairy ingredients for melamine prior to use in our factories."

Last week, Heinz recalled 270 cases of baby cereal in Hong Kong after testing found trace levels of melamine.

[DMS]

Question number 3 from Durbin and DeLauro to the FDA gets my attention:  2006, 2007, and 2008. I also think  they must ask for mandatory independent testing and confirmation of results for  any US products already on the market that may contain imported dairy ingredients.  This is crucial to knowing where we stand.  I want further clarification as to what the contaminants in the rejected imports, past and present, listed only as containing deleterious and poisonous substances are.  And I would like to see levels of contamination such as we are getting from Asian countries in their news reports.  Why does the FDA keep that specific info a secret anyway?  We, the people, have a right to know, IMO, especially considering the rate of inspection.  This information belongs to us, not the manufacturers who may be feeding it to us.

That said, I'm glad they are moving in on the issue.  I will write to thank them.  And to ask for more info.

[JJ]

DMS I agree we need testing of products here that contain imported dairy ingredients. Also would like to see a list of companies that import dairy ingredients with testing done as of today, 10/1/08, and posted showing their product is free from melamine and cynauric acid also.

[DMS]

Definitely, who is importing!  I have the right to know where my food is coming from and if it is contaminated!  This has to be one of the most basic human rights!

[3catkidneyfailure]

kittylyda, great post. First hopeful news since this all came up!

I am confused, though, on Question 6:
Does the FDA plan on banning certain Chinese imports or issuing recalls in response to the contamination?
I didn't think the FDA had the power to ban imports or issue mandatory recalls. Wouldn't that be Congress' department?

FDA can ban, I guess, though OASIS refusals for poisonous and adulterated findings.

[menusux]

3cat--

As the law stands right now, the only food product FDA has the legal ability to recall is baby formula.  All else must be recalled by those who make or import the items. 

FDA can refuse to permit contaminated items to enter the US via OASIS, but banning anything has to come from our lawmakers.



http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4910UK20081002

Reuters October 1, 2008

South Korea finds melamine in New Zealand product

"South Korean authorities have found trace amounts of melamine in milk products imported from New Zealand that were used in baby formula and banned their import, its food safety agency said Thursday.

"The Korea Food and Drug Administration said in a statement that the product, lactoferrin, was produced by Tatua Cooperative Diary Company of New Zealand. South Korea was banning all other products made by the company pending further tests, it said.

"No trace of the chemical has been found in 19 baby formula products tested, presumably because the additive makes up less than 0.1 percent of the final product, the agency said.

"No comment was immediately available from Tauta, which on Monday had suspended exports of lactoferrin because of the melamine find. The company was also checking where its product had been exported to and trying to trace the source of the melamine contamination.

""There's quite a lot of sensitivity around melamine even at low levels," chief executive Paul McGilvary told the NZ Press Association at the time.

"He said the New Zealand Food Safety Authority had found fewer than four parts per million of melamine in the Tatua product, and found there was no contamination of the company's milk supply."

[menusux]

Not sure if we listed this before or not:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aRE5dGGNISbg&refer=japan

Bloomberg.com October 2, 2008

"Kanematsu Corp., a Japanese trading company, recalled Chinese-made egg tarts yesterday found to contain melamine, an industrial chemical linked to the deaths of four infants in China.

"Tests found 1.4 parts per million of the industrial chemical in the tarts, the Tokyo-based company said in a press release yesterday. Kanematsu said there had been no reports of illness."

[mainecoonpeg]

Oasis Refusals
   
    Land O Lakes
    Carlisle, PA  17013-9270                       NYK-DO  112-1871843-8/1/1
    09CGT16   MILK SPRAY WHOLE POWDER
                        04-AUG-2008                        POISONOUS

    Land O Lakes
    Carlisle, PA  17013-9270                       NYK-DO  112-1920683-9/1/1
    09EGH16   MILK POWDER
                        04-AUG-2008                        BACTERIA

[JJ]

No Menusux just another food to add to the ever increasing list of foods that are full of melamine. A question - is all of their food made with this plastic/pesticide MELAMINE and/or cynauric acid? Will all the food be recalled due to contamination? Is any of it safe at all? Should people be careful before purchasing anything made or imported from there just in case? Would labels be needed/required from any company here that imports their food products for sale to americans to be labeled with country of origin - not country of ownership? How worried and concerned should people be about all food imported from other countries? How far spread into how many products is the contamination? Is it in all the food and animals?

[3catkidneyfailure]

http://www.nowpublic.com/health/recalled-melamine-milk-products-list-ongoing

Recalled Melamine Milk Products (List Ongoing)
by Terri Potratz | October 1, 2008 at 06:01
We are still waiting for the WHO or some other health organization to release a comprehensive list of all recalled products tainted with melamine, but until then here is an updated list compiled from various sources on the internet.  Products will be added and removed here as updates occur.
Please keep in mind that mass confusion persists around this issue; many companies are protesting the findings of government testing, while others are finding melamine in products that were previously approved by some governments.  Even products that don't use dairy have been recalled - the melamine scandal includes other related ingredients such as whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.

BAIRONG GRAPE CREAM CRACKERS 116634
DOVE H/NUT ALM & RAISIN CHOC 61737
DOVE HAZELNUT CHOC 61739
DOVE MILK CHOCOLATE 61740
DREYERS CHOC CAKE ICE CREAM 153969
DREYERS COOKIE & CREAM ICE CREAM 14283
DREYERS MINT CHIP ICE CREAM 106486
DREYERS ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM 14281
DREYERS STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM 165294
DREYERS TOAST ALMOND ICE CREAM 106487
DREYERS VANILLA ICE CREAM 14282
DUTCH LADY STER M LF BANANA 151226
DUTCH LADY STER M LF BANANA 739019
DUTCH LADY STER M LF HNYDEW 151230
DUTCH LADY STER M LF HNYDEW 166490
DUTCH LADY STER MILK PLAIN 739008
DUTCH LADY STER MK LF CHOC 151228
DUTCH LADY STER MK LF CHOC 739009
DUTCH LADY STER MK LF PLAIN 151227
DUTCH LADY STER MK LF SBERRY 151229
DUTCH LADY STER MK LF SBERRY 739018
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM S ONION CRACKERS 112010
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SALTINE CRACKERS 102043
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SEAWEED CRACKERS 112011
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SESAME CRACKERS 102042
GINBIS ANIMAL BISCUIT 236531
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL BUTTER BISC 136143
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL CNUT 136145
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL SEAWEED BIS 136144
KOALA COCOA BISCUIT 136492
KRAFT OREO W/STICK WH CHOC 18S 154881
KRAFT OREO W/STICK WH CHOC 5S 154882
KRAFT OREO WAFER STICKS 18S 103967
KRAFT OREO WAFER STICKS 5S 123926
LOTTE KOALA COCOA FUNPACK 56764
M&M CHOC CANDIES PEANUT% 550106
M&M CHOC CANDIES PLAIN% 550105
M&M CHOC CANDIES-PEANUTS 550099
M&M CHOC CANDIES-PLAIN 550098
M&M CHOCOLATE PEANUT 550107
M&M CHOCOLATE PLAIN 550108
M&M FUNSIZE MILK 163864
M&M FUNSIZE PEANUT 163865
M&M's
Magnum ice cream
MEIJI CHESTNUT & REDBEAN 106129
MEIJI FAMILY PACK-GREEN TEA 144101
MEIJI UJIKINTOKI 2978 455016
MEIJI UMAKABO CHOCOLATE 455017
MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT 145161
MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT PROMO PK 12526
MONMILK BREAKFAST MILK MALT 135156
MONMILK BREAKFAST MILK MALT 6S 135154
MONMILK BREAKFAST MILK WALNUT 135157
MONMILK BREAKFAST MILK WALNUT 6S 135155
MONMILK CHOCOLATE MILK 6S 135472
MONMILK COFFEE MILK 6S 135473
MONMILK HI CAL LOW FAT 154697
MONMILK HI CAL LOW FAT MILK 143949
MONMILK HI CAL LOW FAT MILK 6S 143952
MONMILK HI CAL MILK 143948
MONMILK HI CAL MILK 6S 143951
MONMILK MILK DELUXE 12S 154696
MONMILK PURE MILK 143947
MONMILK PURE MILK 154698
MONMILK PURE MILK 6S 143950
Moosandwich ice cream
NABISCO IN A BISKIT CHICKEN 153702
NESTLE MILK & BERRY STARS CRL 153852
NESTLE NES D/STICK MINI VANILLA 105115
NESTLE NES DISTICK MINI CHOCO 105116
NO FRILLS WAFER BLUEBERRY 154712
NO FRILLS WAFER CHOCOLATE 154713
NO FRILLS WAFER PEANUT 154714
Oreo Wafer Sticks
ORION FRESH PIE 240767
ORION TIRAMISU 152948
PEI TIAN CREAM BISCUIT 115554
RABBIT MILK SWEET 38055
SILANG NATURAL OAT CRACKER 142256
SNICKERS CANDIES FUNSIZE 550103
SNICKERS PEANUT CHOCOLATE% 550102
SNICKERS SNACKSIZE BARS PNUT 5 163863
TAKE ONE BABY BITE CARROT 163319
TAKE ONE BABY BITE CK VG 116159
TAKE ONE BABY BITES 24S 64602
VITASOY CHOCOLATE MILK 60409
VITASOY MELON SOYA MILK 235906
VITASOY Q SOYA MILK 60408
WANT WANT MILK CANDY 105504
WANTWANT FLAVOURED MILK '021726
YILI HI CAL LO FAT MILK 1L 155081
YILI HI CAL LO FAT MILK 6S 155084
YILI HI CAL MILK 1L 155080
YILI HI CAL MILK 6S 155083
YILI PURE MILK 1L 155079
YILI PURE MILK 6S 155082
YOUCAN MASTERBEAN MULTIPACK 134139
YOUCAN PASSION MULTIPACK 134140
YOUCAN SILK SLICED AND PASSION STRAWBERRY 134137
YOUCAN STRAWBERRY MULTIPACK 134138
YOUCAN TRADITIONAL SESAME MULTIPACK 134141
YOUCAN UNUSUAL MULTIPACK 134136


Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety Test Results by date:
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/whatsnew_fstr_Test_results_of_dairy_product_samples.html

Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety Unsatisfactory Results of Testing of Melamine:
http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/files/melamine_20081001/List%20of%20food%20samples%20Unsat%20%20FC%20&%20MILK%20%20for%20uploading_01.10.2008.pdf