Laws & Politics
FDA sets new standard for melamine in infant formula
By Sue Mueller
Nov 29, 2008 - 8:39:45 PM

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The Associated Press report that the Food and Drug Administration has set a safety threshold for the industrial chemical melamine in baby formula at 1 part per million.

Two months ago, the FDA said it could not decide what level could be considered safe.   The new standard came soon after the agency announced Friday that melamine was found in a brand of infant formula that was made in the United States without using any foreign ingredient.

Dr. Stephen Sundlof, the FDA's director of food safety said on Friday his agency is confident that this new standard is safe if other related chemicals are not present.   He did not explain why the agency sets the safety standard at 1 ppm.

Melamine contamination in infant formula sickened more than 50,000 children and killed at least 3 babies in China.   The standard for general foods except for those intended for babies is set at 2.5 ppm by the Chinese government and World Health Organization. The standard is recognized by the U.S.

Considering babies' body weight, the new standard for melamine in baby foods seems  higher compared to the standard for foods intended for adults.   Babies' body weight  is at least 5 to 8 times lower than adults'.   If babies’ weight makes any difference, then the new standard should be at least as lower as 0.5 ppm, but not 1 ppm, a health observer suggested.

The level of melamine found in a US brand of infant formula is lower than the new standard.