Melamine: What is it, its effects, and how we can avoid it

Melamine has been in news recently for food poisoning.  Here is a very informative writeup that I got from Jeshi.  I have added all the pictures as well.. it is surely worth reading and bookmarking.

1.What really is poisoned milk

It is the milk powder mixed with MELAMINE

What is Melamine use for. It is an industrial chemical used in the production of melawares.

It is also used in home decoration.

Resistant board

Melamine is use in industrial production it cannot be eaten

2.  Why is Melamine added in milk powder

The most important nutrient in milk is protein, measured as nitrogen content. And Melamine has a high nitrogen content

Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and increases it’s nitrogen content which is reported in lab results as protein content and it is cheaper than milk so it lowers capitalization.  It can give the businessman more profit.

Below is Melamine doesn’t it look like milk.  It doesnt have any smell thus cannot be detected

3. When was it discovered

Year 2007 – US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.

Starting 2008, in China, an abnormal increase
in incidence of kidney stones in infants.

August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine

Sept. 2008  New Zealand Government asks China to check this problem
Sept. 21 2008  Lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine

4. What happens when Melamine is digested

Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stones blocking the tubes. Pain will be eminent and the affected person cannot urinate. The kidney will then swell.

Although surgery can remove the stones, it will cause irreversible kidney damage.  It can lead to loss of kidney function and will require kidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.

What is dialysis In fact, it should be called blood washing
it is filtering all of the body’s blood into the machine and then go back to the body.

The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialyze once every 3 days for the rest of your life

Here is a dialysis center

A small hole is made in the arm to insert the sub-dialysis catheter.

Why is it more serious in babies  Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.

Here is a baby undergoing dialysis.

China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalized

It does not matter how little a human being had taken Melamine. The important point is “It cannot be EATEN!”

5. What are the foods to be avoided

Foods that contain dairy products from China should be avoided.

Remember: Foods with creamer or milk that had been sourced from China should be avoided.

6. Which companies are affected

Hereunder are the companies affected with Melamine

7. What do we do next

– Avoid the above foods (made in China) for at least six months
– Please note that the pictures above are the ones only sold in China. The same brands sold elsewhere may have sourced their milk/dairy ingredients elsewhere.
– If you have infants at home, use mother’s milk or find other substitutes.
– Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of melamine poisoning