Melamine
Level 5 — High concernIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources
Melamine is a other — Used in paper/paperboard packaging; illegal protein adulterant
Also: Cyanuramide
What it does
Used in paper/paperboard packaging; illegal protein adulterant
Where you'll see it
Paper packaging; illegally added to wheat gluten (2007 scandal)
What the research says
Experimental cancer-causing and tumor-causing additive. Moderately toxic by ingestion. Causes skin rash in humans. 2007 pet food scandal killed scores of American pets.
[metabolical] Nitrogen-rich industrial chemical fraudulently added to diluted milk and infant formula to fake high protein readings in nitrogen-based tests. Causes kidney stones and acute kidney failure; killed six infants and sickened 300,000 in 2008 China scandal; exported globally including to US.
Regulatory status
- Notes: Illegal as food additive
Sources
- Metabolical (Lustig) — Chapter 22: melamine in milk killed six infants and sickened over 300,000 people in China, but dairy products laced with melamine were exported around the world and made it to our shores
- A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): melamine is an experimental cancer-causing and tumor-causing additive