Infant Milk Poisoning (Due to Melamine)

[This is a nice simplified explanation of an on-going incident, about the presence of 'melamine' in infants' formula, as well as a range of other dairy products and food items. Thanks to a friend who sent it via email to me]

1. What really is poisoned milk ?
It is the milk powder that is mixed with "MELAMINE"



What is Melamine used for ? It is an industrial chemical, which is used in the production of melawares.



It is also used in home decoration, such as "US resistant board"





Don't anyone understand ! Melamine is used in industrial production ! It cannot be eaten !

2. Why is Melamine added in milk powder ?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And melamine has the same protein that contains "NITROGEN"



Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is cheaper than milk, so it lowers capitalization. It can give the businessmen more profit !

Below is Melamine. Doesn't it looks like milk. It doesn't have any smell, so 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 infant cases of kidney stones.



August 2008... China's Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine



Sept 2008 ...New Zealand gov't ask 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 person cannot urinate. Kidney will then swell.



Although surgery can remove the stones, but 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 4-5 hours and it is necessary to undergo dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.

Here is a dialysis center



Large dialysis center



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



Why is it more serious in babies ? Because their 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 much a human being took Melamine. The important point is "It cannot be EATEN !"


5. What are the foods to be avoided ?
Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided.



Remember : Foods with creamer, or milk should be avoided.

6. Which companies are affected ?
Here under, are the companies affected with Melamine :



7. What do we do next !!!
Avoid the above foods for at least six months.

If you have snack bar, restaurant, or coffee shops... stop selling dairy products for the meantime.

If you have infants at home, change to mother's milk, or find other substitutes.

Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of milk poisoning.