Chronicle of a health crisis: global implications of the 2008 melamine event.

摘要

Melamine is commonly used to manufacture strong and durable laminates, plastics, adhesives, and flame-resistant textiles. It also has been deliberately added to food and animal feed, sometimes in high amounts, to boost the appearance of protein content based on nitrogen analysis. The result can be serious health threats, including renal failure and death. In 2007-2008, for instance, the deliberate addition of melamine to raw milk used in powdered infant formula and other milk and dairy products caused an outbreak of kidney stones and renal failure in Chinese infants and raised significant implications for global food and feed safety [EHP 117:1803-1809; Gossner et al.].