Personal Injury Law

The Bush FDA clears it up; some kidney damage is an acceptable risk for consumers

By Steve Lombardi

Freedom of the press can be a real pain!

First the FDA said the U.S. consumer wasn’t at risk of finding melamine in their grocery store and certainly not in baby formula. Then that darn Associated Press article pointed to previously hidden test results showing melamine was found in infant formula sitting on U.S. grocery store shelves. Oops! Come on! No way! Way.

So what is the latest FDA version of the truth?

As of November 28, 2008 the FDA, after finding detectable levels of melamine in the infant formula sitting on U.S. shelves has reached the conclusion some levels of melamine are acceptable. Even though melamine is not naturally occurring and is not approved to be directly added to food in the United States; its existence in baby formula is FDA acceptable.

FDA Approves Baby Formula Melamine Levels

”Two months ago the FDA said it was unable to determine a safe level of melamine in baby formula. Yet days after the AP disclosed previously hidden test results showing melamine found in U.S. baby formula, suddenly, they have!

On Friday, the FDA set a threshold of 1 part per million of melamine in formula. Conveniently, the threshold is above the levels found in U.S. baby formula. This assumes, the FDA states, provided a related chemical, cyanuric acid, is not present. They also insisted that U.S. baby formulas are safe. Read: U.S. Baby Formula Found with Traces of Melamine.”

I’m seriously not making this up. Just below is an excerpt from the latest and greatest FDA opinion on the subject. The entire FDA announcement, “Melamine Contamination in China: (Updated: November 28, 2008)” is available online.

”November 28, 2008: FDA’s ongoing investigation continues to show that the domestic supply of infant formula is safe and that consumers can continue using U.S. manufactured infant formulas. FDA has concluded that levels of melamine alone or cyanuric acid alone, at or below 1 part per million (ppm) in infant formula do not raise public health concerns. FDA has updated its interim risk assessment, issued in early October, with this information: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/melamra4.html.

The FDA has been collecting and analyzing samples of domestically manufactured infant formula for the presence of melamine and melamine-related compounds. To date, FDA tests have found extremely low levels of melamine in one infant formula sample and extremely low levels of cyanuric acid in another. The levels were so low (well below 1 ppm) that they do not pose a health risk to infants: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine/testresults.html.

Melamine is not naturally occurring and is not approved to be directly added to food in the United States. However, melamine is approved for use as part of certain food contact substances. Low levels of melamine are present in the environment and trace amounts may occur in certain food commodities as a result of approved uses.

Parents using infant formula should continue using U.S. manufactured infant formula. Switching away from using one of these infant formulas to alternate diets or home-made formulas could result in infants not receiving the complete nutrition required for proper growth and development.”

In the end I have to wonder, what exactly are they warning us about? Isn’t this the same FDA that is in charge of approving pharmaceutical drugs that can cause the patient to have a stroke or suffer kidney damage? The same FDA the Michigan Courts found were smart enough to protect the Michigan consumers from the risk of stroke, kidney damage and other organ damage. (Search the InjuryBoard using the terms: Michigan + FDA + Mittleman.) Aren’t we back to Ricky saying, “Lucy you got some splaining to do!” And they wonder why a comedian from Minnesota is running for Congress?

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FDA’s Warnings/Advisories

The FDA is advising consumers not to consume the following products because of possible melamine contamination:

· Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits

· 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

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on December 03, 2008 (boomark / email).