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Melamine Found in Infant Formula
Melamine has recently been found in several types and name brands of infant formulas. Melamine is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Melamine can be used as a filter in the dairy industry. Filters have been cleaned with chlorine bleach and water. Some plastics and liners of cans also have a melamine in them. This dangerous chemical is in so many processes and products we use. For this reason it is highly unlikely that removing these substances from infant formula is going to happen in the near future or can industry eliminate the problem easily. There have been articles from the FDA saying they have also reported contents of cyanuric acid in infant formula. Cyanuric acid is a component in bleaches, disinfectants and herbicides.
Over 275 000 Chinese babies have become sick and six have died after drinking contaminated infant formula with melamine. Many of these babies had kidney stones. Melamine can crystallize in the kidneys and clog the tiny tubules that filter the blood. This can lead to stones, kidney failure or even death. Because infant formula is a baby's main source of food and their tiny size, they are especially vulnerable. It has been said that Chinese manufacturers added the melamine to make watered down milk appear higher in protein. Melamine is also rich in nitrogen which is harmful to infants. Another way that melamine could be making its way into infant formula is in the ultra-filtration system it goes through. It is believed that some filters used in the dairy industry are made of melamine and when cleaning these filters the melamine is leaking out in the Milk Protein Concentrates (MPC's). Infant formula is derived from milk protein concentrates and most are imported from several other countries which means we do not truly know how they are making the milk or what precisely is in the formula. Very scary and very trusting for us to just think or believe that it is okay and totally safe for our baby. Why is our Government and governing agencies not doing more to make sure everything we put into our beautiful, precious babies is extremely safe?
As a precaution, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is requiring importers of Chinese foods that contain dairy ingredients to produce results from recognized labs showing that melamine levels are below limits set by Health Canada. For the latest government advisories and to read more on this topic, go to: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Site . If you must use infant formula to feed your baby, there are a few 100% certified organic choices at your local healthy lifestyle or nutrition store in your neighbourhood. The truly safest system for feeding your baby is breastfeeding. Just because we are told infant formula is good for for our baby and safe, we believe it. It not made by or from nature so how can it provide the best benefits or start to our baby's life. We need to take our money and efforts to encourage, support and protect breastfeeding and the strong, healthy bond gained from it.
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