Join NYU Libraries for an insightful discussion with some of our most esteemed panelists about how the conversation, study, and action around food has evolved over the last two decades. Together, we’ll reflect on 20 years of the Critical Topics in Food event series and examine the role that thoughtful community gatherings like these have played in shaping our collective dialogue about food. The Critical Topics in Food event series is a partnership between NYU Special Collections, NYU Steinhardt Department of Nutrition & Food Studies, and Clark Wolf.
by Marion Nestle
Nov
29
2008
FDA OK’s 1 ppm melamine in infant formula
Friday is a great day for releasing news that might be controversial. The FDA announced a 1 ppm standard for safe levels of melamine in infant formula – provided cyanuric acid is not also present. By this standard, the amount in the adulterated Chinese infant formula – 2,000 ppm or more – would be deemed demonstrably toxic. The amount in the contaminated U.S. formula – 0.1 to 0.2 ppm – would be considered safe. Of course zero would be better, but that seems hard to achieve in today’s chemically contaminated environment. A 1 ppm standard is tough enough to give the FDA plenty of leeway in banning unsafe products.