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purringfur
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« Reply #1320 on: November 11, 2008, 11:21:04 AM » |
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Did we already see this about disposing of the melamine-contaminated milk? ...Tried to dispose of 18 tons and 6 tons ended up spilling into the river. Citizens worried over the drinking water being contaminated, but were assured the levels were within the safe range... http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-11/05/content_7174437.htm |
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Buy local. Buy organic.
If you ate today, thank a farmer, hopefully a small, local farmer.
Remember the thousands & thousands of pets that died to give US a wake-up call about the safety of ALL food.
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purringfur
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« Reply #1321 on: November 11, 2008, 11:28:10 AM » |
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Buy local. Buy organic.
If you ate today, thank a farmer, hopefully a small, local farmer.
Remember the thousands & thousands of pets that died to give US a wake-up call about the safety of ALL food.
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #1322 on: November 11, 2008, 04:02:09 PM » |
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This is a newspaper opinion piece which will undoubtedly upset some folks, but ties together events of October 3, 2008, the day the FDA declared an acceptable standard for melamine being present in the American food supply and issued its scientific risk assessment, the day Congress passed a $700-billion Wallstreet bailout. and how China figured into both. From Jamestown, NY: http://post-journal.com:80/page/content.detail/id/516286.htmlFor Sale: The U.S.A.? POSTED: November 11, 2008 |
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #1323 on: November 12, 2008, 05:15:56 AM » |
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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/12/asia/AS-Hong-Kong-Tainted-Food.phpThe Associated PressPublished: November 12, 2008
HONG KONG: Hong Kong says it has found the industrial chemical melamine in a sample of fish feed from mainland China.
The Center for Food Safety says that the feed contained melamine at a concentration of 6.6 parts per million. It says a Hong Kong fish farmer bought the feed in mainland China and delivered it to the city.
Melamine is found in plastics and fertilizer. The chemical has recently turned up in dairy products and other foods. It has been blamed for the deaths of four infants and for sickening more than 50,000 in mainland China.
The statement issued Tuesday says eight fish at four farms that have used the contaminated feed were tested. No ill effects were found. It was not clear if any fish that ate the tainted feed had been sold to markets.
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Carol
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« Reply #1324 on: November 12, 2008, 06:38:46 AM » |
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This article shows the testing for melamine in milk powder...wonder if it is applicable to all food/feedstuffs? http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/zNoseR-Detects-Melamine-Milk-Powder/story.aspx?guid=%7BE5247EAA-1F2B-4C56-9FFD-C26E0221A3AB%7DNEWBURY PARK, Calif., Nov 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Sensor Technology (EST) , a leading provider of innovative homeland security and environmental solutions, announced it has developed a procedure for detecting melamine in milk powder using the fast zNose(R).
Dr. Teong Lim, Chairman and CEO, reports that a method for detecting and measuring melamine without the need to derivatize or modify the sample has been created. Current cost per sample range around $120 in the US to $145 in China. The FDA method (Bulletin No. 4423) requires 85 minutes of preparation before the 20 minute GC-MS run. Even the fast-screen method (LC/MS) takes 14.5 minutes after sample preparation. EST's method does not require this preparation time and can do a sample run in less than 3 minutes. This significant savings in time will reduce sample testing costs by using the zNose(R) as a prescreening tool. Only samples that indicate melamine are subjected to the costly testing methods.
The presence of melamine in milk powder has been linked to over 53,000 infant illnesses and 4 infant deaths as well as pet food problems and egg contamination. The use of melamine to cheat the nutrition tests has been a practice in many areas and there is no way to contain the contamination without the use of detection tests. Reducing the time and costs of the test with the use of the zNose(R) could help save infants from illness and more.
For more information visit EST's website: http://www.estcal.com
SOURCE: Electronic Sensor Technology
Electronic Sensor Technology
Shareholder and Investors
William Wittmeyer, 650-574-1257 |
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
United we stand Divided we fall....
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #1325 on: November 12, 2008, 09:11:19 AM » |
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So now we have Romer Labs and "ZNose" with fast testing kits. Anyone aware of any others?
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Offy
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« Reply #1326 on: November 13, 2008, 04:04:57 AM » |
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Melamine since 1999? Scientists involved in teaching greed before safety? Greater China Nov 14, 2008
Greed, mad science and melamine By Stephen Wong http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JK14Ad01.html"While unscrupulous milk and fodder producers - and subsequently the government - came under public accusations for making and covering up melamine-contaminated products, angry Chinese consumers are now pointing fingers at scientists.
The prestigious, government-funded CAS was among the first to be linked to the chemical.
Last month, Chinese bloggers exposed that as early as in 1999, a CAS institution placed advertisements for an additive to cattle feed called "DH Composite High-protein Fodder Supplement". The advertisement claimed that the technology could be used to manufacture "high protein fodder using organic nitrogen and special catalysts".
The technology was sold by the Appliance Technology Institute of CAS for 10,000 yuan (US$1,466) plus an extra 5,000 yuan ($700) for training, according to the advertisement. The online ad was soon posted on major websites and forums. Many believed that "DH Composite High-protein Fodder Supplement" was based on melamine." |
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"The days of the fox guarding the henhouse, with corporate lobbyists writing the laws that regulate their industries, must end."*Brent Blackwelder, Friends of the Earth, Sept. 22, 2008
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #1327 on: November 13, 2008, 07:43:58 AM » |
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God in Heaven, Offy, that certainly corresponds to the same decade there's been a 30 percent spike in kidney disease in the United States, doesn't it? http://itchmoforums.com/recall-nonpet-food/melamine-suspected-chinese-officials-say-baby-formula-tied-to-kidney-stones-t6256.0.html;msg92169;topicseen#msg92169Their own children of China, and they don't care, a whole generation ... Does the United States? Never happier to cross-post a link. It's a good start, US government food safety authorities, until this situation can be controlled on food imports from China, but just a start as to what needs to be done. It's a lot more than milk products. Too late for my three beloved pets, but perhaps not my grandchildren: http://itchmoforums.com/recall-nonpet-food/111208-fda-detain-notice-includes-pet-foods-t6890.0.html;msg98239 FDA analyses have detected melamine and cyanuric acid in a
number of products that contain milk or milk-derived
ingredients, including candy and beverages. In addition,
information received from government sources in a number of
countries indicates a wide range and variety of products
from a variety of manufacturers have been manufactured using
melamine-contaminated milk or milk-derived ingredients,
including: fluid and powdered milk, yogurt, frozen desserts,
biscuits, cakes and cookies, taffy-like soft candy products,
chocolates, and beverages. These products appear to contain
at least one milk-derived ingredient and they are of Chinese
origin. Reports of contamination have come from more than
thirteen countries in Asia, Europe, and Australia, in
addition to the United States. Additional products from
various manufacturers continue to be found to be
contaminated with melamine.
The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food
products is a recurring one. In 2007, bulk vegetable protein
products imported from China were contaminated with melamine
and melamine analogs, apparently from deliberate
contamination. |
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« Last Edit: November 13, 2008, 09:04:34 AM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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mary blonde
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« Reply #1328 on: November 13, 2008, 11:10:53 AM » |
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Aloha, I've been folowwing your threads on the Melamilk from China. I wrote to Kraft a week ago to see if they use any Chinese products in their food. I had given up eating Mac & Cheese and Oreos because of all the melamine going around in China. This is their reply: Thank you for visiting http://www.kraft.com/. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us and inquire about the recent events in China. We would like to reassure our valued consumers about the safety of Kraft products, especially those containing milk ingredients. Kraft does not use Chinese milk ingredients in U.S. products or in any products made outside of China. Of the products we make in China, most do not contain milk ingredients from that country. If they do, the level of milk ingredients is very low. And we're testing these ingredients to ensure their safety. Kraft does not export any products containing Chinese milk ingredients into North America, Latin America or Europe. There have been questions about the ingredients used in our Oreo products made in China. Oreo products do not contain Chinese milk ingredients, no matter where they are made or sold. We have full confidence in our food safety standards and systems. As always, our highest priority is to ensure the safety of our products and consumers around the world. Again, thanks for contacting us, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy our products. Collies Anderson Executive Representative Nice to know one company is being proactive! |
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Carol
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« Reply #1329 on: November 13, 2008, 11:51:46 AM » |
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thanks Mary... I too emailed them over a week ago and even included a thread here showing they got their milk protein concentrate from Fonterra in New Zealand and how now that was a concern for me...but no reply to me yet! I posted the email here somewhere--just don't remember right now (but I'll find it!  ) I guess your email may hve been easier to answer!! eta...found it!  http://itchmoforums.com/recall-nonpet-food/melamine-suspected-chinese-officials-say-baby-formula-tied-to-kidney-stones-t6256.0.html;msg95925#msg95925 |
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« Last Edit: November 13, 2008, 11:56:53 AM by Carol »
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
United we stand Divided we fall....
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lesliek
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« Reply #1330 on: November 13, 2008, 02:06:29 PM » |
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Welcome mary blonde and thank you for sharing Kraft's response.
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"the world's most inept extortionist"
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #1331 on: November 13, 2008, 04:01:34 PM » |
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I thank you, too, mary blonde, for sharing the response you got. I would like to
see Kraft's response to Carol, too.
Manufacturer integrity has become a big issue on this forum, and I hope you can
bear with the skepticism developed since March 16, 2007. Better than an e-mail
from any company would be posted testing results by testing method, test sensitivity,
UPC code, manufacturing plant, and batch number, from Kraft to "ABC Mom & Pop
Company" anywhere in the world.
The US FDA must have some reason for doing this Import Alert based on its test results that
have so far not been shared with the American consumer.
But keep sending letters to manufacturers, mary blonde, asking questions to let them know
you are concerned and want more information to make informed consumer choices.
Aloha nui from Laie
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« Last Edit: November 13, 2008, 07:13:37 PM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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5CatMom
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« Reply #1332 on: November 13, 2008, 04:54:33 PM » |
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Mary blonde,
Welcome to the forums. Thanks for sharing Kraft's response.
Unfortunately, we've learned the hard way that such information is "for public consumption" only.
Food companies' pay public relations firms to prepare a script for their customer service personnel to recite. The information has nothing to do with the facts.
For example, Nestle told me that they don't use milk products in their Coffee-Mate. So why does the Coffee-Mate label say "sodium casenate - a milk derivative"? I found out that their sodium casenate is sourced from Australia, but I'm STILL waiting for someone to call me back to explain what testing is done. Is it tested for melamine? Still waiting for an answer.
When you talk with food companies, you have to ask about specific ingredients: Where do they originate; How are they tested.
In my experience (and I've called dozens of food companies), they can't tell you, and they can't get you off the phone soon enough.
5CatMom
=^..^=
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"What is man without the beasts? If the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." Chief Seattle
"We are the caretakers of our creatures . . . the peacekeepers of our planet"
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Cato
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« Reply #1333 on: November 13, 2008, 09:10:39 PM » |
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Welcome to Itchmo, Mary Blonde. Thank you for posting Kraft's response to your queries about the safety of their products. At 5CatMom said, we should take a company's assurances of the safety of their food with a grain of salt. Unfortunately sometimes, it is all we have to go by until actual products are tested.
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