Melamine Risk

Melamine is a synthetic chemical used in a variety of industrial applications including the production of resins and foams, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides. It is not naturally occurring and is not allowed in food. Canada does not allow melamine to be used as a food ingredient. Selected products that could contain melamine such as whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein have been sampled and are in the process of being tested.

On September 21st, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Regent Long Marketing and Distribution Ltd issued a consumer advisory advising people not to consume the Nissin Cha Cha Dessert(清美味寶-喳咋糖水). This product was made using Yili Pure Milk, in which melamine has been detected.

Health Canada has also notified all licence holders and licence applicants for natural health products (NHPs) containing significant amounts of milk proteins, such as NHPs that are nutritional supplements or protein bars, of the situation involving melamine contamination and asked for information as to the sources of the ingredients they use. As an additional precautionary measure, Health Canada will be testing selected samples of various NHPs containing significant amounts of milk proteins, to determine whether melamine contamination is present.

FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, and beverages that could contain these ingredients from Chinese sources. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.

Source: Health Canada (2008). Melamine - Certain products from China. Retrieved from

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/2008melamine.shtml