I went through tons of German sites in hopes that they have other (or newer) studies, and all I could find were those 1945 studies with rats - all the toxological evaluations came up with more or less ‘Not Toxic’, or ‘minimal risk’.

The problem as I see it is
a) those toxicological evaluations are old. Really old.
b) Due to the relative harmlessness of these old evaluations nobody took a good look at melamine.
c) *we* know that melamine (especially in combination with cyanuric acid and probably other components) is highly toxic to cats and dogs, and there is a good chance it is highly toxic to other mammals, too.
d) we have no idea how to get those spontaneous crystals out of a pet’s body, how long they stay there, what the dilution rate is etc etc etc.

In light of the fact that we all are probably accumulating melamine in our bodies and are ticking bombs, waiting for that cyanuric acid component to arrive, I would vote for an extensive study of melamine.

Oh, and this study should be done by an independent university - I wouldn’t mind if it would be outside the USA. Grant money is a persuasive factor.

What do you think?

Comment by SL — May 14, 2007 @ 8:09 am
************

A few days ago, I blanketed the gangs at FDA, USDA, & FSIS about the 1966 sheep-melamine study and reminded them that when they do a “review of the literature” to see what published research is available on the risks of melamine consumption that they are supposed to report ALL studies, whether or not the study findings agree, disagree, or “fit” the hypothesis. I suggested a refresher grad class in doing a literature review. Now, let’s see, why would the FDA not mention the sheep study…. Hmmmm..

Rats seem less like people…don’t they, miniscule in comparison and maybe weighing a half to one pound — whereas the average male sheep weighs 150 - 200 pounds, more human size, wouldn’t you say…?

I also suggested the “Accumulation Factor” as a talking point now that we have contaminated chicken, pork, farm-raised fish, and who knows what else, rather than the “Dilution Factor” that is continuously promulgated.

Thank you to the person who first posted the list & emails of these officials. (I have them in my “contact list.” We pay their salaries. We should let them know what we think. They are talking to the most educated population in our entire history, yet they converse as if we were stupid. Call them on it.

Here you go for a list of FDA, USDA, & FSIS officials:

andrew voneschenbach andrew.voneschenbach@fda.hss.gov

bernadette dunham bernadette.dunham@fda.hhs.gov

daniel mcchesney
daniel.mcchesney@fda.hhs.gov

david acheson
david.acheson@fda.hhs.gov

david elder
david.elder@fda.hhs.gov

diane van
diane.van@fsis.usda.gov

janicecarpenter
janice.carpenter@fsis.usda.gov

julie zawisza
julie.zawisza@fda.hhs.gov

Kenneth Petersen
Kenneth.Petersen@usda.gov

lisa wallenda picard
lisawallenda.picard@fsis.usda.gov

michael rogers
michael.rogers@fda.hhs.gov

Mike Johanns
Mike.Johanns@usda.gov

stephen sundlof
stephen.sundlof@fda.hhs.gov

Pressemitteilung

Letzten Monat wurden gewisse in Nord Amerika durch die Firma Menu Foods hergestellte Nassprodukte für Hunde und Katzen freiwillig zurückgerufen. Menu Foods ist ein Vertragsproduzent welcher Dosen und Beutelfutter für Nutro und viele andere Tiernahrungsproduzenten in USA herstellt. Der Rückruf wurde initiiert nachdem Tiere erkrankten und diese Erkrankung auf einige Chargen von Weizen Gluten, eine weit verbreitete Zutat in Nassfutter, welches aus China importiert wurde zurückgeführt werden konnte.

‘Press Release

Pressemitteilung

Last month there has been a voluntary recall of several wet pet food manufactured by Menu Food. Menu Food is a contractor manufacturing canned and pouched pet foods for Nutro and many other pet food companies in the USA. The recall was initiated after animals got sick, and the sickness has been traced back to some batches of wheat gluten, imported from China.’

Ursprünglich teilte Menu Foods mit, dass nur Produkte mit einem Herstelldatum zwischen Dezember 2006 und März 2007 betroffen seien. Nutro und seine Distributeure haben daraufhin basierend auf Einfuhrdokumenten und anderen Informationen festgestellt, dass keine betroffenen Produkte je an Handelspartner ausserhalb Nordamerikas geliefert wurden. Ein internationaler Rückruf war damit nicht notwendig.

‘Initially Menu Foods reported that only products which have been manufactured between December 2006 and March 2007 were affected. Nutro and it’s distributors concluded, based on importation papers and other informations, that no affected products ever went to partner companies outside North America. An international recall was therefore not necessary.’

Zwischenzeitlich jedoch teilte Menu Foods in den vergangenen Tagen mit, dass sie die Rückrufaktion auf weitere Produktionschargen ausdehnen werden. Trotzdem nur einige wenige zusätzliche Produkte von diesem Rückruf betroffen wären, hat sich Nutro zur Verhinderung von weiterer Verwirrung und zum Schutz der Tiere dazu entschieden, ALLE Nassfutter welche für Nutro durch Menu Foods hergestellt wurden und welche Weizen Gluten erhalten aus dem Markt zu nehmen. Diese Massnahme soll der entstandenen Verunsicherung beim Konsumenten abhelfen und unsere Tiere schützen.

‘In the meantime, though, Menu Foods disclosed during the last few days that they will expand the recall to further production batches. Even though only a very few additional products are affected by this recall, Nutro decided, in order to eliminate further confusion and for the protection of the pets, to remove ALL wet foods processed by Menu Foods for Nutro and which contain wheat gluten. This action has been taken to eliminate the growing confusion of the consumer as well as for the protection of our pets.’

Aufgrund dieser Entscheidung hat Nutro alle internationalen Distributeure aufgefordert, alle Auslieferungen der betroffenen Produkte zu stoppen und eine Rückholaktion im Handel einzuleiten.

‘Based on this decision Nutro called upon all international distributors to stop any further delivery of the affected products and instigate a recall.’

Alle von dieser Rückrufaktion betroffenen Produkte, welche zurückkommen, werden 100% gutgeschrieben. Konsumenten sollten die Produkte an den Fachhändler zurückgeben und alle Handelspartner sollten den Bestand an Nassfutter an ihren Distributeur zurücksenden.

‘All products affected by this recall which are returend will be 100% refunded. Consumers should return these products to the retailer and all retail partners shall return their stock of wet food to their distributors.’

Der Menu Foods Nassfutter Rückruf betrifft in KEINER WEISE Nutro’s Trockenfutter. Nutros Trockenprodukte werden nicht durch Menu Foods hergestellt und enthalten kein Weizen Gluten. Nutro’s Trockenfutter und Biskuits, welche weit über 90% der durch Nutro vetriebenen Tiernahrung darstellen sind nicht von diesem Rückruf betroffen.

‘The Menu Foods wet food recall does IN NO WAY concern Nurto’s dry foods. Nutro’s dry pet food products are not manufactured by Menu Foods and contain no wheat gluten. Nutro’s dry foods and bisquits(cookies? treats?) which constitute more than 90% of Nutro’s pet foods (literally: pet foods which are being distributed by Nutro) are not affected by this recall.’

Für weitere Informationen kontaktieren Sie bitte den lokalen Nutro Distributeur.

‘For more information please contact your local Nutro distributor.’

———- that is the text in the yellow-background recall information.—————-

If you scroll below there, you will find these two jewels of marketing speak:

Alle NUTRO®-Erzeugnisse werden bei NUTRO® PRODUCTS INC. in Kalifornien, USA, hergestellt.
Und das schon seit über 80 Jahren.

‘All Nutro products are being manufactured by Nutro Products Inc in California.
And that for more than 80 years.’

and the second one:

Unsere Philosophie dazu ist ebenso einfach wie wirkungsvoll: Losgelöst von einseitigen Betrachtungen der Rohstoffkosten werden nur ausgesuchte, ja erlesene Zutaten verwendet. Vielen Herstellern geht das preislich zu weit, die Herstellung entsprechender Produkte wird ihnen schlicht zu teuer. Aber wirklich gutes Futter -vielleicht das Beste weltweit- kann man nur aus Qualitätswaren wie z.B. feinem trockenen Geflügelfleisch, wertvollem getrockneten Lammfleisch, gutem Reis und edlem Sonnenblumenöl produzieren.

‘Our philosophy to that is as simple as it is effective: detached from one-sided price considerations of the raw materials only choice, well, exquisite ingredients are being used. For many pet food manufacturers this is a step too far, the manufacturing of products like that is simply too expensive in their eyes. But really good pet food - perhaps the best worldwide - can only be produced by high quality ingredients like fine dry poulty meat, precious dry lamb meat, good rice and exquisite sunflower oil.’

If the whole recall scandal would not be so tragic, I probably would be laughing for the next 12 days over that….

pet food = Hätscheln Sie Speise

tainted pet food = Verdorbenen Tierfutter

per: http://ets.freetranslation.com/

Comment by Kat — May 14, 2007 @ 11:37 am

I’d rather translate it like
pet food: Tierfutter or Haustierfutter
tainted: verdorben, verseucht, vergiftet
tainted pet food: verseuchtes Haustierfutter
recall: Rückruf

HTH

Comment by shawn — May 14, 2007 @ 9:27 am

That email bounced. Good try & logical.

Yes, Nutro recalled before any gov. in Germany.
Also, our media is still sleeping well :-(

As a Nurse, I have over the course of years have questioned the as I call it epidemic of stones and kidney diseases. I also tie it to autism, alzeheimer’s and attention deficit disorder, I do not attribute it entirely, but, a good portion to these maladies.

Sandi
Massachusetts

Just found this article, dated 5-1-07 from S. Africa re: concern over people food contamination:

…”Melamine alone is not believed to be toxic. But a study by Brent Hoff, of the University of Guelph in Canada, has shown that the chemical was being mixed with cyanuric acid, another nitrogen-rich compound that spikes protein content, with deadly results.

“They are both essentially non-toxic, but they combine in the kidneys, where they form a compound called melamine cyanurate.

“And melamine cyanurate is bad news because it forms big crystals, it destroys the kidneys and kills the animals,” Reyers said. “It took us a long time to catch on because they are two relatively innocuous compounds. The only reason we’ve had a major outbreak now is that they happened to get the wrong combination.”

Humans could be in danger too, he added: “There’s no reason to believe the protein- spiking additives are limited to pet food, but the government is ignoring this dangerous possibility.

“I worry that in the US and Australia, the government agencies are up in arms. In South Africa, I have seen no evidence of any government agencies getting excited,” said Reyers.

While melamine is considered non-toxic to humans, it has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats when given in high concentrations. It may be carcinogenic in other pets and humans, he added.

The SA Veterinary Association is polling vets to determine the magnitude of pet illnesses and deaths. About one-fifth of vets have responded to the poll and they reported 25 deaths; 70 ill pets treated and discharged; 64 still on treatment; and 179 ill but unable to receive treatment.

Royal Canin, maker of Vets Choice Premium Dog Food, recalled its products on April 12, blaming melamine additives for pet deaths and illnesses. For unknown reasons, most of the affected dogs were in Gauteng. Cats do not appear to have fallen ill in South Africa.
“…

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.....595C200510