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Food Safety: Is there an evil twin keeping that melamine ghost in your pantry company?

By Steve Lombardi

Halloween is finally over so we can all rest… Wrong!

You painted their faces and allowed the little ones to go out trick or treating and home they came with a bag fool of booty. Before you breathe a sigh of relief because the little ones are so happy and sugar coated, you’d better ask yourself if now there are two ghosts in your pantry.

Is any of that candy made in any foreign country?

If it says, Made in American, does that mean the wrapper or the product inside the wrapper?

Is the wording clear? Or are you confused?

If confused, throw it out.

Why would I say this now?

Here are two headlines that should cause you concern.

China investigates tainted eggs in new food scare, World News showing admission that Chinese offials delayed disclosure of tainted eggs.

Thai FDA assures no Melamine-contaminate eggs in Thailand, National News Bureau of Thailand – found contaminated feed fed to chickens that laid the eggs.

The Food and Drug Administration assures no traces of Melamine found in eggs in Thailand.

Dr. Pipat Yingseri, the secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, asserted that the Melamine-contaminated eggs found in China were due to high level of Melamine-contaminated feedmill that was given to chicken. Therefore, he affirmed that the administration would cooperate with the Live Stock department in inspecting pet food in Thailand for any possible traces of Melamine. Also, strict regulations on the acceptable level of Melamine found in pet food have already been imposed.

Subsequently, Dr. Pipat believed that Melamine-contaminated chicken eggs would not become a huge concern in Thailand.

U.S. FDA Detects Melamine Contamination in Flavored Drink, October 6, 2008. The warning has been limited to foods made with dairy products.

FDA’s Warnings/Advisories - The FDA is advising consumers not to consume the following products because of possible melamine contamination:

· Koala’s March Crème filled Cookies

· YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink

· YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink

· Blue Cat Flavored Drinks

· White Rabbit Candies

· Mr. Brown Mandehling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)

· Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

· Infant formula manufactured in China

Melamine Is Discovered in More Eggs From China, October 29, 2008, The New York Times – The eggs were in Hong Kong and had been imported from China. The U.S. F.D.A had yet to determine if this should be a concern in America.

SHANGHAI — Hong Kong officials say that for the second time in a week they have found a batch of eggs imported from China containing high levels of melamine, the same industrial chemical that has been blamed for contaminating China’s milk supplies.

Lead is the original evil twin of Melamine

And face paint that you bought, didn’t use or use up completely and place back in the Halloween trunk for next year may be a time bomb of lead

Halloween Lead Paint Worries

ATLANTA -- "We really enjoy getting dressed up." Now, there's a hitch in Heather Wailer's Halloween plans. She was spooked by a safety label on a kids' makeup kit she bought at Target.

"It's Halloween makeup that contains lead, and could lead to birth defects," she said, reading from the box.

She's worried the lead in the paint could be absorbed through her seven-year-old daughter's skin.

….

We took her concerns to the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Dr. Anil Mangla is the state's chief epidemiologist. He's also an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia. He frequently checks with officials from other states to compare lab results on lead paint tests. He was already familiar with the makeup worry.

….

Dr. Mangla says there are other, bigger lead concerns for parents this Halloween. "We have found, actually lab results have found, there's a large amount of candy out there that has lead content."
….

Just before our interview Thursday morning, Dr. Mangla confirmed another Halloween danger: "There's actually some false teeth that are out in public that are unsafe. That is a completely different story because there false teeth, you're putting in your mouth!"

Dr. Mangla says ingesting or inhaling lead one time won't give you lead poisoning; it's chronic exposure that could lead to serious problems.

What has been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has never recalled a Halloween mask, said agency spokesman Scott Wolfson. But two Halloween accessories this year have been recalled because of dangerous levels of lead. Dollar General recalled 63,000 Frankenstein mugs and Albert's recalled 55,000 skull-shaped pails.

I don’t wish to overstate or understate the dangers of lead because long term exposures need to be your main concern, but realistically no lead is the best medicine for a young developing brain.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on October 31, 2008 (boomark / email).