Advisory Issued on Recalled Chinese Formula

September 2008

Sept 17 2008 UPDATE – Chinese officials have announced that four babies have now died after drinking contaminated formula. Over 50,000 have fallen sick and more than 10,000 infants have been hospitalized. The illnesses include malnutrition, kidney stones, and acute renal failure.

Two brothers who sold fresh milk used to create the powdered formula were arrested by Chinese investigators. Investigators said that the brothers confessed to watering down the raw milk and mixing in tripolycyanamide, also called melamine. Melamine is commonly used in wood adhesives, fabric coatings, laminates, ceiling tiles, and flame retardants.

Sept 12 2008 ORIGINAL ALERT – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health information advisory that warns consumers to avoid infant formula manufactured in China. A major dairy plant in China has issued a recall of 700 tons of milk powder that is linked to a rash of kidney stones in Chinese infants.

The recall was ordered by Sanlu Group Co., China's biggest milk powder producer, after more than 50 babies suffered kidney stones and one died. It was discovered that the formula was tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics. According to the official Xinhua News Agency, investigators said the chemical was added after the milk was purchased from farmers.

The FDA said that Chinese formula is not approved for importation into the United States. The agency warned, however, that it might be sold at ethnic grocery stores. Melamine is the chemical involved in a massive pet food recall last year used to make the food appear to be protein-rich.