FDA Release Comprehensive List of Tested US Infant Formula

The FDA released a complete list of the US manufactured infant formulas they tested for melamine and cyanuric acid contamination.
The full list can be found that this link.
More from the Daily Green here.

7th Child Dies In China From Tainted Formula

South China Morning Post is reporting that another infant has died as a result of melamine-tainted infant formula, bringing the publicized total of deaths to seven. The child is said to have been from Qingzhou, Shandong province.

Who's Got The Melamine

Associated Press corrects information that was originally reported yesterday. Article is here. The updated information comes from FDA, who gave misinformation to AP. Nestle and Mead Johnson melamine test results were flip-flopped on FDA spreadsheets, and have since been corrected. See article for correction. Still no word on a recall. Although it seems appropriate. To say that no level of melamine is acceptable in infant formula, only to allow certain levels once it's found makes the FDA look untrustworthy.

Small Amounts of Melamine in US Infant Formula

The Associated Press (story By MARTHA MENDOZA and JUSTIN PRITCHARD) is reporting that the FDA has found trace amounts of melamine in infant formula sold in the US. The article states that three firms manufacture more than 90 percent of the infant formula produced in the United States (Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson) and goes on to say the results of the testing:

- "Mead Johnson's Infant Formula Powder, Enfamil LIPIL with Iron. An FDA spreadsheet shows two tests were conducted on the Enfamil, with readings of 0.137 and 0.14 parts per million.
- Three tests of Nestle's Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron detected an average of 0.247 parts per million of cyanuric acid, a melamine byproduct.
- FDA said tests of 18 samples of formula made by Abbott Laboratories, including its Similac brand, did not detect melamine, spokesman Colin McBean said some company tests did find the chemical. He did not identify the specific product or the number of positive tests.

The article points out a contradiction, raising more concerns for families nationwide:

Sundlof told the AP the positive test results "so far are in the trace range, and from a public health or infant health perspective, we consider those to be perfectly fine." That's different from the impression of zero tolerance the agency left on Oct. 3, when it stated: "FDA is currently unable to establish any level of melamine and melamine-related compounds in infant formula that does not raise public health concerns."

Families need to call the manufacturer if they have any questions arising from the use of these products. They can also contact the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). Report any health problems to your health provider and I would suggest contacting the CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).