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Melamine information for consumers

Current issue - Melamine

What is melamine?

Melamine is an organic base chemical most commonly found in the form of white crystals rich in nitrogen.

What is melamine generally used for?

Melamine is widely used in plastics, adhesives, countertops, dishware, whiteboards and fertilizers.

Why was melamine added into milk and powdered infant formula in China?

In China, where adulteration occurred in September 2008, water was added to raw milk to increase its volume. As a result of this dilution the milk will have a lower protein concentration. Companies using the milk for further production (eg, of powdered infant formula) would normally check the protein level through a test measuring nitrogen content. Therefore the addition of melamine - because of its rich nitrogen content - could increase the level of nitrogen, which again masquerade as falsely high protein levels as the standard protein test only measures nitrogen content. This means that the adulterated milk would have an artificially high nitrogen level, which would be interpreted erroneously as a 'normal' or 'high' protein level.

Addition of melamine into food is not approved by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius (food standard commission), or by any national authorities.

In an effort to assure New Zealand parents that infant formula sold on the New Zealand market is safe, NZFSA sampled and tested all such products and found none contained melamine.

Melamine test results

2 October 2008 - NZFSA’s statement about melamine’s link to lactoferrin

Has melamine been found in other food products?

In 2008, melamine was found in a number of different brands of powdered infant formula, in one brand of a frozen yogurt dessert and in one brand of canned coffee drink. All these products were most probably manufactured using ingredients made from melamine contaminated milk.

In 2007, melamine was found in pet feed manufactured in China and exported to the United States which caused the death of a large number of dogs and cats due to kidney failure.

What are the health effects of melamine consumptions in humans?

While there are no direct human studies on the effect of melamine on humans, extrapolation from animal studies can be used to estimate adverse health effects. When combined with another chemical (eg, cyanuric acid which is also present in melamine powder) melamine can form crystals which can cause kidney stones.

These small crystals can also block the small tubes in the kidney potentially stopping the production of urine, kidney failure and in some cases death. Melamine has also been shown to have carcinogenic effects in animals.

What are the symptoms and signs of melamine poisoning?

Irritability, blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, high blood pressure.

What is the cure for kidney failure?

Patients may receive various types of treatment, depending on the severity of kidney failure. Treatment may include infusion of fluids and urine alkalinisation, administration of sodium bicarbonate and insulin, blood and peritoneal dialysis, or surgical removal of kidney stones.

Related links

• NZFSA’s risk management strategy for melamine in food

• Melamine information for importers and retailers

• Melamine in imported mineral supplement - FAQ's

• World Health Organization

Last updated 23 February 2009