the melamine is back

What is wrong with China!
so you would think after they executed their FDA person for melamine contaminated dog food that you wouldn't hear about this in the news again. Am I the only one scared about them taking over as world super power?

See the promed article below:


INFANT KIDNEY STONES - CHINA (02): GANSU, BABY MILK, MELAMINE
*************************************************************
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Source: Xinhua


Health ministry starts nationwide haul of infant kidney stone cases
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents of the babies with kidney stones tell the reporter about
their kids' drinking state at a military hospital in Lanzhou, capital
of northwest China's Gansu Province, [11 Sep 2008]. So far this year,
Gansu Provincial Health Department has seen 59 kidney stone cases in
infants, and at least one baby died as a result of kidney stones.
Most of them live in rural areas of the province. There were no such
cases in 2006 or 2007.

China's Health Ministry said here Friday [12 Sep 2008] that it has
launched a nationwide investigation into contaminated Sanlu baby milk
formula. All local health agencies are to report cases of infants
with kidney stones immediately. Testing by Sanlu, found
tripolycyanamide, also known as melamine, in 700 tons of its product.

Health experts said melamine is a chemical raw material. Ingestion
can lead to reproductive damage, or bladder or kidney stones. A
thermosetting plastic, melamine has an appearance similar to milk
powder. It is widely used in manufacturing fabrics, glues, house
wares and flame retardants.

"The substance gives the appearance of a high nitrogen level, which
is an index to measure the protein content in food," a health expert
told Xinhua. He declined to be named.

Dozens of babies in the Gansu province are reportedly sick. One died
after drinking contaminated formula.

Lu Yuan, a urologist with the No. 1 Hospital of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army, said kidney stones could bring serious problems to
the baby's brains, hearts, lungs, kidneys and livers. 2 babies with
kidney stones receive medical treatment at a military hospital in
Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, 11 Sep 2008.
Lu's hospital, based in Lanzhou, capital of the Gansu Province, has
received 14 such infant patients' 6 have already been cured and 8 are
still being treated.

"Most of the babies looked worn-out and had a fever when they arrived
at the hospital. Some didn't produce any urine for two to three days
and were in very serious condition," Lu said.

The Health Ministry has issued a treatment plan on its official
website () to help local hospitals deal with
such sick babies. The Health Ministry said those responsible for the
contaminated milk will face "heavy punishment". It urged the public
to immediately stop consuming the Sanlu milk powder formula and go to
a doctor if they find babies having difficulty in urinating.

Additional newswire links from the above article:

Hundreds of Carrefour and Wal-Mart stores in China are pulling Sanlu
milk powder off shelves.

78 questioned in powder milk contamination


RE: PRO/EDR> Infant kidney stones - China: Gansu, milk powder susp., RFI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If these news reports are using the terminology "kidney stones"
loosely to include primarily urinary crystals and crystals forming in
the kidneys, then the possibility of ingredients contaminated with
melamine and cyanuric acid, similar to the occurrence in the recent
US Menu pet food recall, should be considered.

Belinda S. Thompson DVM
Veterinary Support Services
Animal Health Diagnostic Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University



******
[3]
Date: 12 Sep 2008
Source: CNN.com


Tainted formula sickens 50
--------------------------
Tainted baby formula has sickened at least 50 Chinese infants,
resulting in one death and prompting a nationwide investigation,
according to China's state-run news agency.

Sanlu Group, a leading dairy producer in China, recalled about 700
tons of its baby milk powder formula after discovering the product
was contaminated with tripolycyanamide, a chemical believed to cause
kidney stones, the Xinhua news agency reported.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[ProMED-mail's toxicology moderator Mod.TG had the following
observations on tripolycyanamide and possible kidney stones in
infants: "The majority of this product is produced and used in China.
There are a couple of large plants in China. It is largely used in
the manufacture of plastic and fertilizer and has some application in
the coating of steel and glass for some industrial purposes.
Interestingly, it has almost the same chemical signature as melamine
and reacts with cyanuric acid in a similiar fashion to melamine.
Melamine by itself does not cause too many problems, but in the face
of its biological breakdown or metabolite product cyanuric acid, the
2 together can cause kidney problems. This chemical has the same
combination as with cyanuric acid and results in a detrimental effect
on the kidneys. It is curious as to how/why it got into the baby food
formula."

In 2007, there were at least 10 reported deaths among dogs and cats
with many more suffering from renal failure related to ingestion of
melamine contaminated pet food imported from China. (see prior
ProMED-mail postings referenced below). In a New York Times article
at that time (see 30 Apr posting) it was stated that "workers [in the
city where the product was made] openly admit that the substance
[melamine] is routinely added to animal feed as a fake protein. For
years, producers of animal feed all over China have secretly
supplemented their feed with the substance, called melamine, a cheap
additive that looks like protein in tests, even though it does not
provide any nutritional benefits, according to melamine scrap traders
and agricultural workers [in Zhangqiu]".

More information on the why's and how's of this contamination would
be greatly appreciated.

For a map of China with administrative divisions

For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of China with links to other
recent ProMED-mail/PRO/MBDS postings in China and surrounding areas


Infant Formula Manufactured in China: Health Information Advisory Due
To Reports Of Possible Contamination With Melamine
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FDA issued a Health Information Advisory to consumers and
healthcare professionals regarding milk-based infant formula
manufactured in China. The Chinese manufactured infant formula may
be contaminated with melamine. Melamine artificially increases the
protein profile of milk and can cause kidney diseases.

Currently, no Chinese manufacturers of infant formula have fulfilled
the requirements to sell this product in the United States. FDA
officials are investigating whether or not infant formula
manufactured in China is being sold in specialty markets which serve
the Asian community. Caregivers should not feed infant formula
manufactured in China to infants and should replace any product from
China with an appropriate infant formula manufactured in the United
States. Individuals should contact their health care professional if
they have questions regarding their infant's health or if they note
changes in their infant's health status.

Read the entire 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the
FDA Health Information Advisory regarding the above issue