Melamine in foods from China

Last updated 3 December 2008

Food products withdrawn

Product testing

Consumer advice

Maximum melamine levels in food

Food products withdrawn from sale in Australia

Only the following products have been affected in Australia:

Melamine is used in the plastics industry and should not be used in food. There may be trace levels of melamine in foods due to leaching from food-grade contact materials, but these levels are not a health concern.  Melamine has allegedly been used in China to make milk appear higher in protein than it really is. Chinese health officials have advised that melamine has been found recently in baby formula and in other Chinese dairy products. The contaminated milk powder may be linked to kidney problems found in Chinese infants and a number of infant deaths.  

Australian food safety agencies continue to actively investigate and respond to melamine contamination of some products containing dairy ingredients made in China and elsewhere. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is coordinating action among Federal, State and Territory food agencies, including:

• working with importers and food manufacturers in Australia to ascertain if products contain Chinese dairy product as an ingredient possibly contaminated with melamine  
• targeted precautionary testing of product on Australian shelves
• monitoring of imports by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
• working closely with food regulators around the world including the World Health Organization.
• New Zealanders visiting this website should note that the New Zealand Food Safety Authority has done its own testing for melamine. For more information see the NZFSA website.

Food products withdrawn

White Rabbit Creamy Candy	Lotte Koala Biscuits (made in China)	Kirin Milk Tea     (made in China)
Cadbury Eclairs  (made in China)	Orion Tiramisu Italian Cake (made in China)	Dali Yuan brand First Milk (vanilla flavour)       (made in China)
Boxer Lovers Body Pen Set (body paint) (made in China)	Munchy's Mini crackers (made in China)	Four Seas Premium cake (three flavours: chocolate, peach and melon) (made in China)
No photo available		(Chocolate/Peach/ Melon composite) – 90 g each (expiry date 20/04/2009)
Danco Waffles (made in China)
No picture available

Product  testing

Authorities continue to test a targeted range of other products from China containing dairy as a minor ingredient. More than 160 samples have been tested so far.  Test results to date have not detected the presence of melamine in any of these products, except for White Rabbit lollies, Lotte biscuits, Kirin Milk Tea, Orion Tiramisu Italian cake and Dali Yuan brand First Milk vanilla flavoured drink, Boxer Lovers Body Pen Set (body paint), Munchy's Mini crackers,Four Seas Premium cake (three flavours) and Danco Waffles.

A national coordinated surveillance program of products containing ingredients from China that may have been adulterated by melamine is being carried out by FSANZ and the states and territory authorities. This began in October 2008.

As well, some industry associations are alerting regulatory bodies to information from their members on the sources of ingredients they use. The Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia has published a list of products and manufacturers which have stated their products do not use Chinese dairy ingredients contaminated with melamine:
see the confectionery list at http://www.candy.net.au/consumer-information.asp?pgID=644

AQIS has confirmed that Australia has not imported milk products containing dairy as a major ingredient (more than 10%) from China this year. These products containing more than 10% dairy ingredients must have an import permit (with a few minor exceptions) before they can enter Australia.

Munchy's Mini Crackers Cheese Cream, Danco Waffles and Four Seas Premium cake (three flavours)

Munchy's Mini Crackers Cheese Cream, Danco Waffles and Four Seas Premium cake (three flavours: chocolate, peach and melon) have been withdrawn from sale in Australia by importers and wholesalers. The action commenced on 28 November 2008 and follows Australian test results showing levels of melamine in product available here. Consumers are advised not to consume Munchy's Mini Crackers, Danco Waffles and Four Seas Premium cake (three flavours)  and should dispose of the product safely.

Infant formula

Infant formula products in Australia are produced under strict standards to ensure their safety and nutritional value and can be used normally.  Australia does not import infant formula products from China due to quarantine restrictions.  This has been confirmed by AQIS.  Food regulators have conducted targeted inspections at wholesale and retail level and have found none of the Chinese infant formula product on shelves.

Consumers who have travelled to China and purchased formula or other dairy products when travelling for personal use should not consume those products. See the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Contaminated_dairy_products

Kirin Milk Tea

Consumers should not consume Kirin Milk Tea. Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Foods containing small amounts of dairy

It is unlikely that there would be a problem if melamine is consumed in small amounts either from foods with dairy as a minor ingredient and/or where the food is consumed now and then in small amounts.  

If consumed in higher quantities over a long period melamine may, in some individuals, cause health problems such as kidney stones or kidney disease.  Infants in China were particularly affected as they were consuming significant amounts of contaminated milk formula on a daily basis.  Symptoms of kidney problems include blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, pain and high blood pressure. There have been no reported cases of illness in Australia.

• Advice to General Practitioners http://www.racgp.org.au/fridayfax/27434
• WHO guide on Melamine: see http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan_events/en/index3.html    

People with specific concerns should see their medical doctor.

Melamine contamination of fruit and vegetables grown in China

International media reports have raised concerns about melamine contamination of fruit and vegetables grown in China that have been exported to the world.  Australia imports some vegetables from China. Testing by FSANZ and overseas government agencies has found no evidence of melamine adulteration of fruit and vegetables grown in China .

Eggs and beef

There were also media reports on 27 October 2008 that Hong Kong authorities have detected melamine in fresh eggs imported from China, and intend expanding testing to meat imports from China. Australia does not import fresh eggs or beef from China due to import restrictions.

Melamine cups and plates

Some consumers have asked whether it's safe to use melamine cups and plates. As only trace quantities of melamine are released from melamine cups and plates during normal daily use, ingestion of these amounts would not pose any risk to health.

In summary, FSANZ has concluded that:

• A maximum level of 1 mg/kg for melamine in infant formula is considered appropriate.
• A maximum level of 2.5 mg/kg for melamine in dairy-based foods and foods containing dairy-based ingredients is appropriate and acceptable.
• A level of melamine above 2.5 mg/kg of food is indicative of food adulteration.
• For infant formula, even at relatively low levels of adulteration an infant will quickly exceed the Tolerable Daily Intake for melamine, if consuming formula only.
• Foods with low levels of dairy based ingredients, such as candies and biscuits, are likely to be infrequently consumed and in small amounts so they are not considered to be a high-risk food for potential dietary exposure to melamine even if the dairy ingredient has been adulterated.

Please click here for full assessment report.