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News item [01-2007]:
Updated article [02-2008]- September 22 , 2008
News item:
Melamine in Milk Powder. View article >>
April 07, 2007
Melamine in Pet Food
In recent weeks there has been a major pet food crisis in North America and South Africa caused by melamine contamination in the gluten added to pet food. Melamine is a by product of the coal industry used in plastics manufacture. It would appear that the Melamine has been added to gluten and related products in China. See Sydney Morning Herald Article.
While considered only mildly toxic, in combination with other contaminants, Melamine appears to be responsible for the deaths of large numbers of pet cats and dogs in North America. Apparently crystals of melamine block the kidneys and urinary tracts of these animals, causing kidney failure. The scare has caused millions of packages of pet food products to be recalled in North America with over a hundred brands affected. The list of melamine contaminated additive ingredients now includes wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, and rice bran according to the FDA in the USA ( www.fda.gov ). Any vegetable based protein concentrate is suspected, because the melamine has been added to boost the Nitrogen levels of the additive in any protein determination. These vegetable based protein additives may be the basis of any types of imported animal feeds as well as additives in imported pet food or other imported products intended for human consumption.
Advanced Analytical has developed a test for Melamine and it is sufficiently sensitive to the levels expected in any contamination of any type of food product or feed additive. Please contact us if you require this analysis on 02 98889077.
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