The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both concluded that the level of melamine in food products, other than baby food, should not exceed 2.5 mg/kg. Hong Kong has set its maximum concentration limit for melamine in baby food at 1.0 mg/kg, and 2.5 mg/kg for other foods.

Romer Labs® new AgraQuant® Melamine Sensitive immunoassay has been validated for dairy products such as milk, milk powder, yogurt and yogurt drinks. The test’s quantitation range for milk, yogurt and yogurt drinks is 0.1-5.0 mg/kg, and 0.5-25.0 mg/kg for milk powder.

Melamine, a nitrogen-rich chemical normally used in plastics, has been widely used in China to give livestock feed the appearance of higher protein content. Most recently involved in the deaths of at least 3 and illnesses of more than 6,200 babies in China when illegally used to disguise the protein content in baby milk formulas, melamine first made the headlines last year when it was found as an additive in the pet food that caused the deaths of dogs and cats in the US. Melamine by itself is nontoxic in low doses, but when combined with cyanuric acid it can cause fatal kidney stones.

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