Keywords: Adulteration is a process in which food or beverage is made impure or weaker in some aspect of content by adding something of poor quality
What is melamine?
Melamine is an organic base chemical that consists nearly 70 percent of nitrogen in its mass and has fire retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned, thus has many industrial uses when combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, which is a synthetic polymer. Commonly, melamine is produced from urea.
What is melamine generally used for?
Melamine is widely used in protein adulterations, especially in Chinese markets, plastics for dishware, whiteboards, and laminate flooring, and adhesives for the fabrication of high-resistance concrete.
Why was melamine added into milk and powdered infant formula
China, being world's largest exporter of melamine, found a use as an adulterant for feedstock and milk products in mainland China because melamine can make diluted or poor quality material appear to be high in protein content by elevating the total nitrogen content. As a result, food products pass safety protocols due to the increase of apparent protein content since the test equate nitrogen level to protein content.
Addition of melamine into food is not approved by the FAO/WHO Codex for food standard commission due to its high risk of toxicity, especially in the case of usage in infant powdered formula.
Where has melamine been found in other food products?
The issue of melamine use in food products came to light in 2007, when pet food manufacturers saw a trend of illnesses and deaths in some animals that had eaten melamine containing food. The discovery of severe kidney damage to pets resulted in several food recalls after the USFDA traced the melamine back to exporters from China.
In the present, melamine is still allowed in food and milk products because following the 2008 China milk scandal where over 50,000 infants were hospitalized and six were killed, international agencies saw to the steep regulating of melamine in food. To date, melamine is often used in food packaging, tableware, and insecticide throughout the world so food containing melamine is a sure thing. Many food regulation agencies have ensured that all composite products containing at least 15 percent of milk product, originating from China, be systematically tested before importation and that all such products over that percent by immediately destroyed.
What are the health effects of melamine consumption in humans?
Many health complications that arise from the consumption of melamine involve the failure of the kidneys as melamine crystallize resulting in blockage of the small tubes in the kidneys potentially stopping the production of urine. If not resolved, this condition will lead to kidney failure and, in some cases, death. While there are no direct human studies on the effect of melamine, many inferences have been made regarding data from animal studies used to predict adverse health effects. Where the data departs with human predictions, melamine alone has a unique carcinogenic effect in animals in certain circumstances, but there is insufficient evidence to make a conclusion if that carcinogenic risk extends to humans.
What are the symptoms and signs of melamine poisoning?
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Toxicity of melamine is moderated by intestinal microbes, so ranging from acute to chronic exposure, symptoms can vary widely. Common patterns are identifiable: Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant,blood in urine, no urine, signs of kidney infection, and high blood pressure.What is the treatment for kidney stones and kidney failure?
Patients may receive various types of treatment, depending on the severity of the kidney effects. Treatment targets to prevent further development of acute renal failure. Urine alkalinization and stone liberalization have been reported as the most effective treatments in humans. Other options include: infusion of fluids, correction of electrolyte and acid-base disturbance, peritoneal dialysis, or surgical removal of kidney stones.
