Replies

The contamination is widespread and the FDA has no clue as to where it will lead,

As of April 26, 2007, FDA had collected approximately 750 samples of wheat gluten and products made with wheat gluten and, of those tested thus far, 330 were positive for melamine and/or melamine related compounds. FDA had also collected approximately 85 samples of rice protein concentrate and products made with rice protein concentrate and, of those tested thus far, 27 were
positive for melamine and/or melamine related compounds. FDA’s investigation has traced all of the positive samples as having been imported from China.

It’s important to keep in mind that the melamine itself is not the cause of the illnesses and deaths. The melamine has been there for years. What’s new is a second contaminant, believed to be cyanuric acid, that reacts with melamine to form the toxic substance. There seems to be a huge obsession now with tracking down the sources of melamine, and screening products for melamine content, when it’s the other substance that set off the rash of illnesses and deaths. But I haven’t heard a peep about where the cyanuric acid came from, and I have to think it could react with other things too (like the melamine in many food containers, and other completely different substances). Cyanuric acid is used for pool cleaning, and I suspect the answer is that it recently started to be used in equipment cleaning at food processing plants in Asia, probably in an honest attempt to improve sanitation. I’m puzzled about the lack of focus on this.