A recent infant death in China has initiated another investigation of melamine contamination in milk products:
China has updated the data on the extent of the melamine scandal. The initial figures were a gross under-estimation:
The melamine contamination in China could impact upon the profitability of international companies. One such example is Nestle, as the company mounts a security and public relations effort to control the quality and reputation of its products:
“The head of European food giant Nestle said Friday the company had mounted a “sizable effort” to ensure the safety of its dairy products in China, sending in scientists and specialized machines in the wake of the melamine contamination scandal.
“From the first moment, the first minute we heard about the problem, we mobilized quite a sizable effort,” CEO Paul Bulcke said at a news conference to inaugurate a research and development center in Beijing. “We mobilized close to 45-50 people worldwide to be part of the solution and containment of this problem.”"
link: Nestle sends experts for melamine tests in China
Nestle may have the appearance of good co-operation from the Chinese authorities. In the future, the Chinese government may have stringent checks of products before it reaches Nestle facilities. The same cannot be said for other manufacturers in China. The industrial structure in China is so vast that it may take years for adequate security controls to be implemented. The Chinese government may insist that the infrastructure is in place to guarantee product safety. However, the contaminated pet food, the contaminated milk, the contaminated eggs and other products provide contrary evidence to the government controlled reports.
Catherine Forsythe
The chemical melamine has been implicated in the recent tainted milk scandal in China. Now melamine has been found in eggs and egg products from China:
“…Testing of animal feed, chicken meat and eggs will also be introduced.
Hong Kong scientists found excessive levels of melamine in one brand of mainland eggs on Saturday.
The extra-large “Select Fresh Brown Eggs” imported from the Hanwei Group in Dalian in northeastern China, were found to have nearly twice the legal limit of melamine.”
link: Hong Kong widens China food tests
With contamination of basic food products like milk and eggs, can any exported food product from China be trusted?
Catherine Forsythe
The contaminated milk recall in China and internationally continues. In China, it is an overall recall:
“BEIJING - China is ordering all liquid and powdered milk manufactured before Sept 14 to be taken off the shelves for melamine testing, the first time it has issued a blanket recall of products since the tainted dairy scandal broke last month.”
link: Blanket recall of milk items
Some will take issue with the report that the milk scandal surfaced in September 2008. The first warnings of contaminated milk appeared in December 2007. In a society where the news is controlled, the suppression of this danger was considered patriotic, as well as ’saving face’. The result was that thousands of children were ill. Some died. And now, there is a public image to control and manage.
Catherine Forsythe
The list of products contaminated with Chinese milk is increasing. Heinz has recalled products:
“…”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.”
link: Heinz to stop using Chinese milk in products
The safety guideline has become simple. All milk related products from China are suspect. The melamine contamination is that widespread.
Catherine Forsythe
The fallout from the contaminated milk scandal has become international and impacting on milk related products. The chemical melamine, which has caused illness in tens of thousands of Chinese children and which has caused some deaths, has been found in products exported from China:
“Indonesia’s health ministry said melamine had been detected in 12 food items from China, including biscuits, lollies and drinks, as the fall-out from China’s tainted-milk scandal spread to Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.”
link: Melamine ‘found in 12 China food products’
Cadbury is recalling Dairy Milk and other chocolates, as the products contain melamine. The extent of the contamination is so widespread that it cast doubt on any Chinese milk related import. This is especially a concern for young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health concerns.
Catherine Forsythe
The Food and Drug Administration has warmed on contaminated instant coffee from China:
“…U.S. regulators warned the public on Friday not to consume seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products that were made in China, because of concerns they may be contaminated with melamine.”
link: US FDA warns about instant coffee made in China
The contaminated milk has caused nearly 10,000 additional illnesses in children. The number of children who have suffered from this contamination may exceed sixty thousand now. It is exactly such security issue concerning the safety of food products that necessitate that the Food and Drug Administration have additional funding and staffing. The dangers are simply too real.
Catherine Forsythe
In China, the number of children who are ill from contaminated milk powder continues to increase:
“A third infant has died in China after drinking contaminated baby milk powder and more than 6,200 are ill, the country’s health minister said today.
The number of children suffering after being fed products tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics that can help to disguise the fact that milk has been diluted, is five times higher than authorities anticipated and is expected to continue rising.”
link: Chinese tainted milk powder leaves 6,200 children ill
As the election cycle draws to a close, both Senator McCain and Senator Obama are advocating fiscal responsibility and controlled government spending. One agency that requires additional funding and additional staffing is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A report filed in December of 2007 gave the FDA a failing grade. “The report uncovered failures at every turn. The most glaring is that the FDA lost 600 inspectors in the past four years, making the agency unable to protect the country’s food supply. And the FDA’s responsibilities have grown, rendering the agency ineffective.” It is not inconceivable that such a diaster can happen to the American food supply. Last year, thousands of households lost pets because of the contamination in the pet food supply. Presently, the FDA cannot fulfill its mandate of protecting the American food supply. It is a harsh reality that the next administration will have to address - hopefully not as a consequence of tragedy.
Catherine Forsythe
Lactose is a sugar and, for some people, lactose is a food problem. There are many people who have a difficulty digesting lactose. A major source of lactose is milk. The difficulty is that there is an insufficiency of the enzyme lactase. The result can range from severe cramping to mild discomfort. There may be bloating, nausea and, in some cases, dizziness.
There is a wide range in the severity of the intolerance. For some people, it is possible to tolerate some dairy products. Other people find that the slightest amount of lactose brings the onset of discomfort.
The problem is that there is lactose found in unexpected food sources. For example, lactose is found in the following foods and products:
Part of the confusion is that there are many products that carry the label as being “non dairy”. Unfortunately, that does not mean that the product is free of lactose. If a product label carries words like ‘dairy by-products’ and/or ‘milk by-products’, then there is lactose present.
Obviously, those with a severe reaction to lactose must be conscientious label readers and screen out foods. However, there is an increasing number of reports that even people with a mild or moderate lactose intolerance benefit from monitoring and limiting their lactose consumption. There seems to be an improvement in energy and general feelings of well being.
There are two general issues with monitoring food intake carefully. First, it is simply difficult to do. One has to become used to reading tiny fonts on labels. And, asking about lactose in places like restaurants usually elicits numerous ‘I-don’t-knows’. The second problem is that the list of safe foods shrinks significantly. It is prudent to consult with a dietitian or the family doctor about what can be on the ‘lactose free’ list of foods. With some care, it can be possible to avoid lactose and avoid hidden dangers.
Catherine Forsythe
