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Tolerable levels of Melamine?
- 6-2-2010
- Categorized in: Pet Food Ingredients, Pet Food Recall
International experts of the World Health Organization said they have/had set a "tolerable daily intake for melamine". Confusing; a "tolerable daily intake" for a industrial compound used to make plastics and pesticides? Common sense seems to say there should be NO tolerable level allowed in any food. But that's common sense which all too often has nothing in common with health experts.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director for Food Safety Jorgen Schlundt said the allowable 0.2 milligrans per kilograms of body weight will "better guide the authorities in protecting the health of their public". Yet at the same time, experts of WHO stated it is not yet possible to set a "safe" level of the chemical.
WHO experts also set "tolerable daily intake of cyanuric acid, a related chemical, is 1.5 mg per kilogram of body weight." All too familiar with thousands of pet owners, WHO experts admitted "when both chemicals are in food the effect seems to be more than merely additive." 'More than merely additive'...in other words the effect of both of these chemicals could have disastrous results. Yet there is no mention from WHO experts about a 'tolerable' amount of melamine and cyanuric acid.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/fp/money/sets+tolerable+levels+melamine+food/1038214/story.html#ixzz0pWnYqk1d
The FDA sets a 2.5 parts per million of melamine and melamine-related compounds. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2008/ucm116960.htm
Again, common sense would say that there should be NO tolerable level of an industrial chemical allowed in food, any food; especially an industrial chemical known to destroy normal kidney function in those that consume it. Where is the common sense in our food safety officials?
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com
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This is a sad commentary on our society, our culture, that any of these materials, foreign to any kind of nutrion or edible substance, are to be allowed in our food. It's a sad thing when one has to be so very careful and watchful all the time about what we buy to eat. What kind of bounty is this, what kind of riches? We all need to take a second look at the ideas we were raised with, breadbasket of the world, wealthiest, best fed, etc. Yvonne
I purchased a Drinkwell pet fountain on Amazon about 2 months ago but when it arrived, I had second thoughts. Seemed to be made out of melamine (like the dishes) and, of course, like everything else it came from China. I did not want my cat's water dish sitting around all day with the water absorbing chemicals from the plastic/melamine. I also do not use plastic pet food bowls for the same reason. Call me paranoid! I use stainless steel.
This makes me furious!!! I just lost my precious kitty to kidney failure.. which I suspect was caused by melamine poisoning.
Any so-called statement of 'tolerable daily intake for melamine" should send petsumers running. This is probably an attempt to apease Chinese import quotas. One way to turn the tables is to take the pledge against buying anything "Made in China". It is an agreement out there on the web. But even less formal an idea is simply to be aware of the "Made Where" identifiication label and avoid anything made in China. Boycotting such products, all products (even though so very cheap) is supposed to create the meassage that the United States won't support sub-standard products and production methods. And that ideally, we're protecting the "Made in the USA" alternative. Sign up today!
Kelly, I agree with you wholeheartedly and I always check labels to see "Made Where" but sometimes it is almost impossible to buy anything that does not come from China. Probably 90+% of all pet toys are made in China. I believe Dr. Daniels is one exception. I tell people I know not to buy pet toys. I can't imagine what kind of toxins are in pet toys when the Chinese have no problems tainting the food supply, children's toys and jewelry. Even when I purchase fish for human consumption it is hard if not impossible to find anything that is not a "product of China." Their fish are farmed in filthy, toxic cesspools. I think Orca Bay is one exception where it states "product of USA."
The tolerable risk level does not mean FDA permits any deliberate attempts to adulterate food products with melamine. It is meant only to account for situations that may result in accidental contamination. Plastic dinnerware and Formica countertops, for example, contain melamine and very small amounts of the chemical may come into contact with food. This chemical is part and parcel of our life today, apparently leaching from plastics and contact materials during processing and packaging in trace quantities. The tolerable level is like having one million grains of sand where all of them are white but two or three are black.
Wikipedia: Because melamine resin is often used in food packaging and tableware, melamine at ppm level (1 part per million) in food and beverage has been reported due to migration from melamine-containing resins.[69] Small amounts of melamine have also been reported in foodstuff as a metabolite product of cyromazine, an insecticide used on animals and crops.[70] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine
WHO Experts set the tolerable level for melamine intake (in 2008) http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr48/en/index.html
EFSA reduces tolerable intake level for melamine
13 April 2010
The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for melamine, a chemical mainly used in the manufacture of certain plastics, as new analysis indicates that it may cause harmful effects to the kidneys at lower levels of intake than previously thought[1].
Applying statistical analysis to the toxicological data which is currently available, EFSA’s expert Panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM Panel) set a new TDI of 0.2 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight. This is in line with the TDI set by the World Health Organisation in 2008.
Small amounts of melamine can migrate into foodstuffs from materials such as melaware plastic cups and dishes. However, exposure data analysed by EFSA’s Panel on food contact materials (CEF Panel) indicated that exposure to melamine through foodstuffs is generally below the TDI.
The opinion recommended that EU limits for the migration of melamine into food should be reconsidered, given that food is not the only source of exposure.
EFSA previously provided scientific advice to the European Commission following the fraudulent contamination of pet food and milk products from China with melamine in 2007 and 2008 respectively[2]. In 2009, the European Commission asked EFSA to re-assess the TDI for melamine and to determine likely levels of background exposure to melamine and related substances for both humans and animals.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/contam100413.htm
The problem with establishing "tolerable" levels of any risky compound is just another euphanism for sanctioning "acceptable". The Plastics Industry is a very powerful and influential aspect of manufacturing. Their mission is to put a good spin on the use of plastics no matter what, particularly in the medical field - which is a non-arguable and necessary useage.
In the '50's and '60's (and probably still do) many families ate meals off of Melamine Dinnerware. Formica countertops were popular. Tupperware was indispensible. Fast Food restaurants began using plastic utensils, cups and food keepers. Babies have become exposed to plastic toys and teething rings. Kids use (therefore touch) plastic pens and various accessories for schoolwork.
And the following decades brought about plastic water bottles including the 5, 3 or 1 gallon sizes for home delivery and the use of personal convenience bottles. Babies' glass formula bottles became plastic ones, dishware and spoonware. Grocery stores began selling fruit and sweet drinks mostly in large plastic bottles and containers. Also condiments, and sliced fruits and vegetables in throw away plastic containers. How many of our parents and grandparents used to buy Foil and Waxed Paper for wrapping sandwiches and now only use Plastic Wrap and Baggies?
There is growing concern about Microwaving food IN plastic containers. Except that most Frozen Food Entrees (Healthy Choice?) come in plastic serving trays.
The final concern is BPA itself, including the liners in (now most) human (and pet) canned food. And now they think BPA is being added to the food itself to prevent bacterial growth.
What might be a tolerable level for just one "element" of plastic is just one more addition to an overall growing plastic toxiticity in our environment. Yes, plastic is convenient, most of us can't live without it, and no one tries to.
But we have a lot of increasing health concerns that can not be so easily dismissed anymore. Making it necessary to consider ALL environmental factors. So if I can elminate "Melamine" particularly because it's sourced from China (pet food recall?) and it seems pretty unnecessary at best, and therefore choose glassware containers over plastic when grocery shopping, and metalware water bottles, then I'm just hedging my bets against that so-called "tolerable" level of permitting "just" a little more plastic in our society - as it is applied across the board.
We've come to accept and expect plastic as a utter convenience in our daily lifestyle. But the problem is - we're being so inundated and affected by so many multiple uses of plastic concerning our food supply system - that it's generating a far greater consequences than ever anticipated.