China sets melamine levels for milk products (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

China sets melamine levels for milk products

The Associated Press
Published: October 8, 2008

BEIJING: China on Wednesday introduced standards
for levels of the industrial chemical melamine permitted
in milk and food products as it seeks to rein in a
festering safety scare.

The government has been struggling to deal with health
and public relations issues stemming from the scandal,
which erupted last month and is increasingly affecting
China's food exports.

-snip-

Safe melamine limits were set at 1 part per million of
infant formula and 2.5 parts per million for liquid milk,
milk powder and food products that contain more than
15 percent milk.

-snip-

There had been no previous standards and levels of
melamine discovered in batches of milk powder recently
registered as much as 6,196 parts per million. Chinese
health officials have said no harm comes from consuming
less than 0.63 parts per million.

Guidelines in Hong Kong and New Zealand say melamine in
food products is considered safe at 2.5 parts per million
or less,...

-snip-

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/08/asia/AS-China-Tainted-Milk.php

[Connonym]

1. why is it in there at all?

That's what I don't understand. Why don't the set the level to 0?

[Eugene]

2. Plastic packaging leeches chemicals into food.

Zero is not practical if you use plastic.
In this case, China is falling into line
with standards used by other countries.

[Indenturedebtor]

3. Yes but as I understand it - it's in pesticides as well.

Which is why their levels are so high. They're using some cheap crappy pesticides.

[lynnertic]

5. last year they intentionally doped dry wheat gluten with melamine to get

high scores on certain protein content tests, that test for nitrogen. More nitrogen used to mean more protein, and so a higher asking price. It's a small jump in my mind for the same crew to do that to powdered milk now.

The fact that the Chinese have detained 5 suspects in this case supports my suspicion of intentional poisoning versus accidental poisoning (pesticides traveling up the food chain).

[Indenturedebtor]

7. It's showing up in many products that aren't tested for protein content though

While you're probably right about the wheat situation being due to criminal activity, I think that a lot of it is from Pesticide use. Here's a link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG120043.htm

Don't forget that these folks are intentionally or unintentionally poisoning their own people as well. It's not some sort of attack against the US.

[lynnertic]

8. I never thought it was an ATTACK, just some dumb scheme to get money.

esp. since the problem is once again a powder (milk powder)

Thanks for the link, I'll read it.

[lynnertic]

4. How about NONE? But who am I to ask, American milk is full of cow-antibiotics and perchlorate. n/t

[aquart]

6. "Levels"????? How about ZERO?

[Romulox]

9. Notice that neither candidate has made food safety a key campaign issue?

And that both candidates whole heartedly support "free trade" with China? :eyes: