Melamine: the latest, greatest environmental health scare. If this isn't exactly a household name for you, read our handy Q and A below.
Q. What's melamine?
A. Melamine is a synthetic chemical that is used to make plastic resin coatings. Melamine made headlines last year due to tainted cat and dog food, and this year with tainted Chinese baby formula. Both of these food contaminations were unfortunately, intentionally done to give the products higher protein levels before being approved for market. Today, melamine again made news. The FDA has an ongoing investigation on melamine and discovered a minute (really, really small) amount of melamine in one U.S. baby formula sample and a few samples of U.S. nutritional products made by baby formula manufacturers. The FDA is using new technology which is extremely sensitive at detecting low levels of melamine. They believe the trace amounts of melamine are due to the processing of these products.
Q. What happened to the babies who ate the tainted Chinese formula?
A. Significant amounts of melamine ingestion over a period of time can lead to kidney stones, kidney failure, and even death. In China, about 52,000 children became ill, 12,000 were hospitalized, and several children died due to the tainted formula.
Q. Is there any risk of melamine exposure in the U.S.?
A.The Food and Drug Administration currently says that exposures of less than 2.5 ppm (parts per million) have no serious health risks. The caveat: even they cannot determine a "safe" level for infant formula. The Chinese formula that caused problems, by the way, had about 520 ppm.
Q Is U.S. baby formula safe? Should I be freaking out?
A. Yes, it's safe. No, you shouldn't freak out. And, we are glad the FDA is remaining vigilant about their investigation. We'd still encourage you to breastfeed anyway. But, U.S. made infant formula is the alternative we would recommend if you are supplementing or not breastfeeding.
Q. What should I look for if I am worried about my baby having melamine poisoning?
A. Crying with urination, blood in the urine, fluid retention (edema).
Q. Where can I get more info on melamine exposure?
A. Go to the FDA's website for another nice Q&A: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine_qa.html
Q. Where can I get more info on melamine and kidney disease?
A. Check out the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology website: http://www.aspneph.com/newsevents.asp
"A panel of science experts challenged the Food and Drug Administration's conclusion that a chemical widely used in plastic food containers is safe, saying the FDA should have paid more attention to studies suggesting the contrary," reports the Wall Street Journal today.
It's the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of BPA and baby bottles.
In case you are new to the controversy, here is an overview: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical used to make clear hard plastic (polycarbonate), well, clear, and hard. It is also used in epoxy-phenolic resins--the protective lining in food and beverage cans. As such, BPA is found in many of the plastic baby bottles on the market as well as infant formula cans. When BPA is in contact with food or liquid surfaces, a small amount of it can leach out into the product and we end up ingesting it.
The last time we posted on this subject was when the Food and Drug Administration announced in September that we had nothing to fear about Bisphenol-A (BPA). We found that interesting since the National Toxicology Program (of the NIH) released a report stating they had "some" concern for adverse health effects on fetuses and young children exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA). That report led to a frenzy in the baby bottle industry to create BPA-free versions of their bottles.
Today, the plot thickens...the FDA commissioned their own panel of researchers to review the scientific literature on BPA. Their findings? YES, there may be some health concern and more studies are needed to figure it out. The FDA doesn't call for all-out ban on BPA containing products based on this report (unlike Canada, who recently banned all BPA containing baby bottles). So, it's really up to you, as a consumer, to avoid BPA where you can.
Read the full FDA statement here.
Many manufacturers have already phased out baby bottles made with BPA. Unfortunately, clear hard plastic baby bottles are not the only place your baby will encounter BPA. There is also a trace amount found in the lining of baby formula cans and some baby foods. Formula manufacturers may be scrambling to repackage their products so they can ensure consumers they are not exposing babies to BPA. In the meantime, don't lose too much sleep over this one if you are formula feeding your infant.
The highest amount of BPA will be in ready-to-feed formula. Since it isn't diluted at all, the BPA that comes out of the can is what your baby will get. Liquid concentrate has less BPA because the formula has to be diluted with water for you to prepare it. Powdered formula has the least BPA of all.
So, if you are looking to limit your baby's BPA exposure, here is our advice:
1. Breastfeed.
2. Use powdered formula. (It's the cheapest option, too).
3. Use non-BPA baby bottles. There are several options on the market---glass, new plastic bottles like Born Free that are BPA-free, polypropylene bottles (Medela) and so on.
4. If you have BPA baby bottles, do not microwave or clean them in the dishwasher.
Q. With all this talk about Chinese formula being tainted with melamine, I'm a little leary of using my melamine plates. Are they safe?
A. With melamine in the news, no doubt many parents wonder about other melamine products. I have reviewed the existing medical literature and polled my favorite environmental health expert to answer your question. Bottom line: the plates are safe. The melamine does not leach out of the plates in any significant way and large volumes of melamine have to be ingested to cause a medical problem, like that experienced with the tainted Chinese formula.
On a separate note, some chocolate body pastes (if you are into this sort of thing, you know what I am talking about) have also been found to be tainted with melamine. So, you might want to find out where those products are manufactured if you are in the market for them :)
First, it was bisphenol. Now, it's phthalates turn.
The Washington Post reports today that the Congress has passed a ban on phthalates in children's products. This follows a similar move by European safety regulators in 1999 and state bans in California, Vermont and Washington State.
Phthalates make plastics softer---they are often found in teethers, rubber ducks and other soft plastic toys. Studies have linked the chemical to reproductive problems and cancer, although the chemical industry disputes those findings.
The congressional ban would take effect in six months, if signed by President Bush. This news follows moves by retailers Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Babies R Us to stop carrying products with phthalates after January 1, 2009.
We'll continue to follow this story and let you know if it becomes law!
