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by Marion Nestle
Oct
4
2008
FDA issues melamine risk assessment
The FDA says melamine in food at or below a level of 2.5 ppm (mg/kg) is unlikely to be harmful–except in infant formula. This seems reasonable; on a per kg body weight basis, this would be a very low dose. But what about when it is mixed with its by-product, cyanuric acid? Nobody has yet defined the lowest dose of melamine which, when mixed with cyanuric acid, does not form kidney-blocking crystals. Melamine should not be in the food supply at all, and especially not in infant formula, under any circumstances