When the FDA says "there's no reason for any parent to be concerned for any reason," I want to roll my eyes. So when FDA spokesperson Judy Leon said exactly that about its recent discovery of melamine in U.S. Baby formula, I did roll my eyes, albeit briefly.
Then I tried to get to the bottom of this, since I wasn't feeling overly confident that the FDA and manufacturers have got it covered. I'm sure I'm not alone in turning elsewhere for the full, science-based story. The Associated Press' two articles are quite thorough, and as always with breaking news, there are stories cropping up by the hour.
Turns out the Associated Press broke the story by requesting results of formula testing under a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA). FDA hadn't even told manufacturers about their findings. There are 3 firms involved in this mess (Nestle, Mead, and Abbott), and together they manufacture more than 90 percent of the formula made in the U.S. FDA originally gave the AP incorrect data, but Wednesday's story straightened it out.
Now we know that melamine was detected in Nestle's Good Start Supreme, cyanuric acid (a related chemical) was found in 3 samples of Mead Johnson's Enfamil Lipil with Iron, and Abbott (makers of Similac) told the AP their own tests had turned up some of the chemical.
What is melamine? It's a synthetic chemical with loads of familiar uses when combined with formaldehyde (dry erase boards, dishware, and formica, to name a few). When ingested at toxic levels, melamine can adversely affect kidney health and, as we saw with pets and babies in China, at high enough doses it can kill. Contaminants in formula pose an incredible risk to infants because of their small body size, intense appetites, immature body systems that can't metabolize toxic chemicals, and the fact that a single type of formula can be 100% of their diet.
If there is a silver lining to this situation (I know, I shouldn't mention linings since metal formula can linings still contain BPA, too...), it's that the amounts found are far lower than those found in China. But aside from that, I'm not feeling very grateful for an agency that has so very poorly protected public health in recent years.
At least it's common knowledge that the place needs an overhaul, and soon. Especially since it is contradicting its own prior statements on melamine by suggesting that the trace amounts being found are safe. Less than two months ago it made very clear where it stood on melamine safety, and it doesn't add up:
FDA is currently unable to establish any level of melamine and melamine-related compounds in infant formula that does not raise public health concerns