tripolycyanamide aka melamine?? [also try "tripoly cyanamide" & "cyanamide" & "n-tri-cyantriamide" ]

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Cyanamide

CYANAMIDE, NC NH 2j the amide of normal cyanic acid, obtained by the action of ammonia on cyanogen chloride, bromide or iodide, or by the desulphurization of thio-urea with, mercuric oxide; it is generally prepared by the latter process. It forms white crystals, which melt at 40° C., and are readily soluble in water, alcohol and ether. Heated above its melting point it polymerizes to di-cyandiamide (CN2H2)2, which at 150° C. is transformed into the polymer n-tri-cyantriamide or melamine (CN 2 H 2) 3, the mass solidifying.

Somehow,  I don't think that quite relates to what we researched as "melamine"  & that might be the answer to some of our questions.... I'll look later, but maybe somebody else can get to research that quicker... Did the cooking temperature of the pet foods impact this adulteration?

That, tripolycyanamide, is what the brother said he put in the milk. Wasn't that liquid when he put it in??? Does this lead to answers about the other colored particles found when they were researching the melamine contamination of pet food? [I emailed Barbara Powers & William Burkholder to ask about this]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/16/china.formula/

Investigators said the brothers -- surnamed Geng and residents of the city of Shijiazhuang -- confessed to watering down the raw milk and mixing in tripolycyanamide, also known as melamine. They said they did it to recover losses suffered when the factory rejected earlier milk shipments, the paper reported.

The paper quotes the reaction of one brother, age 48, when asked if thought about the consequences of adding melamine.

"I've never asked and never thought about it," he said. "I only know it's bad for health."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/16/content_10034427.htm

In November 2007, Ma purchased around 200 kg of the chemical melamine. He then mixed it with fresh milk purchased from individual cow owners and resold it to Sanlu Group.

Melamine is not water soluble is it? So the heating/processing turned it into melamine?

"Of the total 1000 bags imported, 564 bags have been seized, and Fonterra sold another 434 bags to food processors to be used as an ingredient in cakes, calcium tablets, creams and beverages. The remaining two bags were used by distributors as samples."

Do I understand that 434 bags are still out there or have been used to make other products.  I never thought of calcium tablets...  Are these finished products made overseas and shipped here by chance?  I do NOT want to hear the phrase "dilution factor" again.

More news:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLmS_IYOSFJkM4bmP9OKEPpUxdyA

AFP September 16, 2008
Two more arrested in China milk scandal: state press

"Police in Hebei province arrested two people who confessed to adding the industrial chemical melamine to milk and stepped up an investigation of the Sanlu Group, packagers of the product, Xinhua news agency said.

"The report quoted one of the suspects, a milk dealer surnamed Zhao, as saying he added melamine to eliminate a "strange smell" in milk from his cows.

""Someone told me if melamine is added, it will not only dispel the strange smell of the milk, but will also drive up the protein content in the milk," he said.

"Four people have been formally arrested in the scandal, which has killed two babies so far.

"Those arrested included two brothers surnamed Geng, while 22 others have been detained for questioning, it said.

"More arrests are expected, Xinhua quoted police officials as saying."

---

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST2288620080916

Reuters September 16, 2008

China worries about long-term effects of bad milk

---

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/china/sanlu-milk-victims-4294.html

EpochTimes September 15, 2008

Contaminated Milk Victims May Reach 30,000

"The Xinhuanet’s September 13 issue indicated that based on Sanlu Group’s announcement, approximately 700 tons of contaminated milk powder was on the market.

"The report states that based on a five-month circulation if each infant consumed 3,600 kg per month, victims will exceed 30,000."

Given how many edible products we import from China to the US, I sincerely hope the FDA is doing a thorough investigation into possible contaminated foods/pills/powders behind the scenes.  And that they'll tell us about their findings very soon.

More Breaking News re: melamine-

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPYE0JvTLHQA&refer=home

Bloomberg September 16, 2008

China Milk Scandal Widens With Melamine Found in Yogurt Bars

"China's tainted milk scandal widened as regulators said they found melamine in products of a second dairy company, after infant formula contaminated by the chemical was linked to 1,253 cases of infant kidney stones, killing two.

"Wellcome, a supermarket chain owned by Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd., said it will stop selling ice cream made by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group after the chemical was found in a sample, according to a statement sent by e-mail late today.

"The discovery in Hong Kong and in a second company's products of the crystalline compound, which can make the protein level in dairy products appear higher than it is, boosts concerns that contamination may be widespread. Chinese authorities are investigating all dairy companies in the mainland market as the official Xinhua News Agency said contaminated milk made by Sanlu Group Co. sickened children.

"Officials at Yili, China's largest maker of dairy products, weren't immediately available for comment today after calls to three different numbers after office hours.

`Natural Choice' Yogurt

"Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department found melamine in Yili's ``Natural Choice Yogurt Ice-bar with Real Fruit,'' Wellcome said in its statement. The supermarket operator said it will stop selling all Yili brand ice cream as a precaution.

"Other products made by the dairy company will still be for sale, according to Annie Sin, Wellcome's marketing and communication manager. Wellcome had sold Yili ice cream products in some of its more than 250 stores in Hong Kong, Sin said."

Four hundred thirty-four bags were sold to food producers.   Already, the authorities must know to what food manufacturers those other 434 bags were sold and in what types of foods/pills/mixes the concoction was to be used.  And, they must know what brand names are affected.

Since awareness of the problem started in March, unless food producers ordered way, way in advance to stock up on this "milk powder," I'd assume that whatever other products this was used in have already been manufactured and put on store shelves.

I am so afraid this is just the beginning of a long list of "where it went"!! This is the same thing we went through last year...all because of greed...when the risk outweighs the benefit...that is when it may stop..I hope...