[2]On September 12, 2008, in light of reports from China of infant formula
[3]contaminated with melamine, the FDA issued a Health Information Advisory
[4]to proactively reassure the American public that there is no known threat of
[5]contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met
[6]the requirements to sell such products in the United States. That advisory
[7]also warned members of Asian communities in the United States that infant
[8]formula manufactured in China, possibly available for purchase at Asian
[9]markets, could pose a risk to infants. No Chinese manufacturers of infant
[10]formula have fulfilled the requirements to sell infant formula in the United
[11]States.
[12]The FDA contacted the companies that manufacture infant formula for distribution in the United States and received
[13]information from the companies that they are not importing formula and do not source milk-based ingredients from
[14]China.
[15]In addition, the FDA – in conjunction with state and local officials – continues to check Asian markets for food items
[16]that are imported from China and that could contain a significant amount of milk or milk proteins.
[17]The FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food
[18]products containing milk or milk-derived ingredients from Chinese sources. FDA has recommended that consumers
[19]not consume certain products because of possible contamination with melamine.
[20]Melamine is not naturally occurring and is not approved to be directly added to food in the United States. However,
[21]melamine is approved for use as part of certain food contact substances. Low levels of melamine are present in the
[22]environment and trace amounts may occur in certain food commodities as a result of approved uses.
[23]Parents using infant formula should continue using U.S. manufactured infant formula. Switching away from using one
[24]of these infant formulas to alternate diets or home-made formulas could result in infants not receiving the complete
[25]nutrition required for proper growth and development.
[26]USA Food and Drug Administration - November 28, 2008
[27] http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine.html
