Melamine Continued: More Pervasive Than We Thought

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Remember that recent melamine scare in China? You know, the chemical that was found in milk and killed a few Chinese infants and harmed at least 10,000? Yes, the very same chemical that was responsible for many animal deaths from tainted pet food. Unfortunately, we’re not over the melamine problem yet.

Recently, melamine was found in high levels in Chinese eggs too, because of chickens fed on melamine-laden wheat gluten. If you’re thinking, “Oh, but that’s in China, I eat American eggs,” remember the wheat trade is global. Wheat gluten from China could very easily end up feeding the chickens right in your home state. Grain-fed cattle may end up eating this wheat, as well.

How does this happen? Melamine is a common additive in industrial fertilizers (and there’s no government regulation on it) because it controls the release rate of nitrogen. The melamine builds up in the soil and, because plants absorb all nutrients in the soil, eventually becomes part of our food supply. You literally are what you eat.

This is yet another reason for everyone to go organic.

Image: Kerri 2008