stephen.sundlof@fda.hhs.gov

5CatMom
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More Nestle, Klim products found to contain melamine
CNA
Thursday, October 9, 2008 9:35 am

"""Nestle milk products were previously declared as safe because the equipment employed to test them was less sensitive."""

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/10/09/177851/More-Nestle.htm

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This explains why "allowable levels" are dangerous - the amount measured is only as reliable as the test equipment.

5CatMom
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Dear Meowmie,

I'm so sorry for your loss of sweet Kaffe.

What a wonderful life you gave him - yummy homemade food, an outdoor play area, and so much love and care.

May God help your heart to heal.


Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond’s gilt on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there,
I did not die.

- Author unknown


5CatMom
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Oct 8, 2008 Fears Chinese vegies sold in Australia tainted with melamine

"""Australian food authorities are investigating reports of melamine contamination of vegetables and will complete a safety assessment.

Chinese products imported into Australia include fresh garlic and peas, frozen mixed vegetables, canned mushrooms and tomato paste.""""

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24465166-661,00.html

5CatMom
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DMS,

Maybe they checked with the "gold standard", the US's FDA.

It's beyond me why anyone would believe that food producers have either the will or the ability to hold the amount of contamination to 2.5 ppm, or to any limit.

Dishonest food producers are being rewarded with "allowable limits"  -- a green light for the contamination to continue.

5CatMom
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Oct 8, 2008 China sets limit for melamine in milk:

"""Safe melamine limits were set at 1 part per million of infant formula and 2.5 parts per million for liquid milk, milk powder and food products that contain more than 15 percent milk.

There had been no previous standards and levels of melamine discovered in batches of milk powder recently registered as much as 6,196 parts per million. Chinese health officials have said no harm comes from consuming less than 0.63 parts per million."""

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/08/AR2008100800325.html

5CatMom
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Yeaaaaaa!  Trudy's back.

5CatMom
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3Cat,

I don't disagree, but at least if Bart has a hearing it will be picked up by the media.  That's a good thing 'cause many people don't seem to have a clue about what's going on.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to send comments to the House's Energy and Commerce Committee.

http://energycommerce.house.gov/membios/contact_form.shtml

5CatMom
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DMS,

Very good job.  I hope they get a couple of million comments. 

We need to post that comment link all over, so that many others will see it.

5CatMom
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Federal Reserve to buy loans crucial to business to unfreeze markets.

By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Last Updated: October 7, 2008: 11:22 AM ET

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Federal Reserve announced a new program to help the battered market for short-term business loans - taking its closest step yet to lending directly to businesses."

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/07/news/economy/fed_commercial_paper/?postversion=2008100711

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This option was recommended by many experts and should be viewed favorably by the markets.  However, the Dow is down 496 points (5%) to 9500.

This comes while former AIG executives were grilled by Congress today.  One revelation from the hearing is that CDS's (credit default swaps--or, uncollateralized insurance on bonds) are "valued" at $58 trillion.

5CatMom
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Here, the FDA answers questions about melamine:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/melamqa.html

5CatMom
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Here's a link where you can tell the FDA what you think about melamine in our food supply:

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-top.html

Dear FDA,

Your decision to allow food products to be contaminated with melamine is flawed.

1.  There are no studies which indicate that melamine is safe for human consumption in any amount, for any period of time.

2.  Your "science" assumes that the melamine is not also contaminated with other chemicals, i.e., cyanuric acid.  Melamine, in combination with other chemicals, has been shown to form crystals in the bladder and kidneys.

3.  Because food is not adequately tested for contaminates, you have no way to know if other toxic chemicals are present.

Your "science" is short sighted and obviously designed to placate the food industry and it's lobbyists.

Your decision DOES NOT improve food supply safety, or protect the health of consumers.

However, it does give the green light to dishonest companies who seek to profit by spiking food ingredients with cheap, but deadly, chemicals.   

I will no longer purchase ANY processed foods from the grocery store.  Likewise, because the FDA allows melamine to be fed to animals, I will no longer purchase ANY meat or meat products from the grocery store.

Shame, shame, shame on you for allowing our food supply to become contaminated.


5CatMom
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AIG subsidiary parties in style in OC, two weeks after bailout:

"""Less than two weeks after Uncle Sam gave American International Group (AIG) an $85 billion loan - staving off financial collapse - execs from one of its insurance subsidiaries, AIG American General, gathered for a conference at the uber-swank St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, billed as “California’s only Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star Resort,” where ocean-view rooms start at $565 a night and “world class luxury” is the rule."""

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2008/10/02/after-federal-bailout-aig-fetes-in-style-in-oc/


5CatMom
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Leslie,

Sorry, I missed this thread earlier.  Hope your Remy gets better soon.

5CatMom
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FDA's Melamine Decision Scares Consumers

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/10/chinese_formula10.html

"""But those words offer little comfort to worried consumers like Mary in Kansas.

"I don't trust the FDA," she said, adding she has shared her concerns with her elected officials. "And now I'm struggling day-to-day on what to feed my family. When you go to the grocery story, how do you figure out what to buy?"

Mary has stopped buying any processed food and only eats meat sold by local farmers. She said she will continue to take these precautions until she is sure the food supply is safe.

But the FDA, she fears, can't give her that assurance anytime soon. "The FDA is galloping down a slippery slope." """



5CatMom
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