There are many reported incidents of mixing malamine in
Packed Milk. Health experts say ingesting melamine can lead to kidney stones,
urinary tract ulcers, and eye and skin irritation. It also robs infants of
much-needed nutrition. Some of the reports are as under.
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Four infants died and hundreds fell ill in China when they
consumed Nestle-brand milk that was found contaminated with traces of a
hazardous industrial chemical melamine. A sample of Nestle Dairy Farm Pure Milk
manufactured in China was tested positive for low content of melamine by Hong
Kong's center for Food Safety. China's Health Ministry on September 21, 2008
revealed that around 13000 children were hospitalized, while about 40000
children had undergone outpatient treatment for illnesses related to the
consumption of melamine-tainted milk products.
A center spokesman said that 'normal consumption will not pose
major health effects. However, it is not advisable for small children to consume
the milk product.' On the other hand, Nestle has denied the reports published in
a leading Chinese newspaper about traces of the dangerous chemical found in baby
milk manufactured by the company in China and sold in Hong Kong. The Swiss
global food giant said in its statement that 'none of its products in China made
from milk is adulterated with melamine.'
Meanwhile, 12 patients ranging from one-year-old to people in
their 50's have been undergoing tests in various hospitals in Hong Kong to check
whether they have been affected by the consumptions of milk products imported
from China. Health officials say, 'Children who have been drinking more than
two glasses of the affected milk and milk products may have consumed potentially
harmful amounts of melamine'.
Source:
http://www.india-server.com/news/chemical-melamine-found-in-nestle-milk-3926.html
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The poisoned milk scandal keeps spreading. Today Taiwanese
government officials yanked Nestle products from store shelves after tests
showed trace amounts of melamine, the industrial chemical added to Chinese milk.
According to the Associated Press Taiwan’s Health Minister, Yeh Ching-chuan,
said Nestle powdered milk from northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province had
between 0.3 and 0.85 parts per million of melamine. “Such minor doses of
melamine will not affect people’s health,” Yeh said, “but we will take them off
shelves according to our recommended procedures.”
Nestle argues that the move is unnecessary. In a statement sent
to reporters today, the Swiss giant said “the company immediately complied with
authorities’ request, even though the Department of Health itself confirmed that
these products are absolutely safe by any recognized international standards.
Moreover, these products had already received official certification as being
safe from the Department of Health.”
The company also takes a stab at trying to contain a melamine
panic among health officials. Yes, there’s some of the chemical in Nestle’s
milk, the company says, but the amounts not only are so small as to be
insignificant to health, they also would probably be there regardless of what
unscrupulous Chinese dairy industry players did. “According to international
experts the levels of melamine detected in these products by Taiwan’s Department
of Health are so minute that they are almost certainly present in any food
product anywhere in the world. Such minute traces exist in the natural food
cycle. Indeed, the EU and the US have long had limits for the presence of
melamine in food and the WHO recently issued recommendations which were used by
other countries including New Zealand to set their own standards. The 0.05 ppm
detection limit currently applied in Taiwan is up to 50 times below recognized
and accepted international standards.”
Perhaps Nestle does have science on its side. But right now the
science doesn’t much matter. Given the shocking news from China and the
heartbreaking photos of Chinese babies suffering from melamine-induced kidney
stones, I seriously doubt Nestle or any other company will be able to make much
headway in stopping the momentum against malamine mixed milk.
Source:
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LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Standard Quality and
Control Authority (PSQCA) on Wednesday submitted before the Lahore High Court
that the authority’s finding had confirmed the reports on mixture of dangerous
substances like melamine, detergents and chemicals in the packaged milk.
The PSQCA chairman was submitting his reply to Justice Mian
Saqib Nisar who expressed grave concerns over the dangerous state of affairs
among the authorities concerned for maintaining quality food in the country,
which was causing diseases and deaths among the citizens. The judge observed
that the court would not allow the heinous practice.
The PSQCA chairman informed the court that a meeting of the
Technical Committee of Food and Milk Products had already been convened for
December 15 to discuss the reports on adulteration of dangerous substances in
packaged milk.
The petitioner, Barrister Zafarullah Khan, informed the court
that amazingly the Pakistan Standard Specifications for Milk, 2009, had allowed
mixing of 5 mg melamine in one kg milk for adults’ consumption and 1mg in one kg
milk for children. He said the PSQCA had not given a single reason why the
dangerous substance like melamine, which was a kind of plastic, was allowed to
be added in milk since it was proved to have been a major cause of renal failure
and other deadly diseases. He said the main reason melamine was allowed to be
mixed in milk was because the major chunk of natural protein was extracted from
the milk before packaging and melamine was added to artificially compensate the
loss of protein and thinness of milk. He cited example of China where three
persons found guilty of adding melamine in milk were hanged to death.
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Control Authority (PSQCA) chairman confirmed the mixing of
melamine, besides detergents, in packed milk.
The judge observed that the court would not allow anyone to play havoc with the lives of people, especially children.
The chairman informed the court that a meeting of the Food and Milk Products Technical Committee would be held on Dec 15 to discuss the adulteration of different substances in packed milk.
Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who had filed a petition against supply of adulterated packed milk, pointed out that the Pakistan Standard Specifications for Milk, 2009, allowed indirect mixing of 5mg of melamine in 1kg of milk for adults and 1mg for children.
The PSQCA chairman said the technical committee would take note of the matter.
Justice Nisar directed the chairman to present a detailed report on Dec 22 about the outcome of the meeting.
The judge asked amicus curiae Barrister Sidra to collect milk samples for tests in a laboratory in London.
Barrister Zafar would contribute Rs10,000 to meet expenses of sample collection, the judge said.
The judge observed that the court would not allow anyone to play havoc with the lives of people, especially children.
The chairman informed the court that a meeting of the Food and Milk Products Technical Committee would be held on Dec 15 to discuss the adulteration of different substances in packed milk.
Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who had filed a petition against supply of adulterated packed milk, pointed out that the Pakistan Standard Specifications for Milk, 2009, allowed indirect mixing of 5mg of melamine in 1kg of milk for adults and 1mg for children.
The PSQCA chairman said the technical committee would take note of the matter.
Justice Nisar directed the chairman to present a detailed report on Dec 22 about the outcome of the meeting.
The judge asked amicus curiae Barrister Sidra to collect milk samples for tests in a laboratory in London.
Barrister Zafar would contribute Rs10,000 to meet expenses of sample collection, the judge said.
Since melamine has high nitrogen content, it is mainly used in plastic and foam products. It can make foods appear to have higher protein content in some tests. Dishonest food producers in some countries have used melamine to supplement feedstock, pet food and even baby formula.
Scientists have determined that melamine causes kidney stones and renal failure and can be fatal to animals and humans.
Recently, several thousand babies in China became ill, having suffered acute kidney failure, with several fatalities, after consuming milk contaminated with melamine.
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