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Melamine Discovery Prompts Recall of Biscuits

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) found melamine in test samples of biscuits sold by a company from Vietnam, a discovery that has prompted a recall of four varieties of Wonderfarm brand biscuits.

Tests conducted by the MDA laboratory found several of the cookies had melamine levels that exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limit of 2.5 parts per million. According to a press release from the FDA, all lot codes of the biscuits are being recalled by Interfood Shareholding Co. The biscuits, sold in red tins, were distributed in "multiple'' states through food wholesalers and retail stores, the FDA said.

Melamine is an industrial chemical used in plastics and other manufacturing. It became one of the biggest food safety stories of the year when it created an epidemic of illness in Chinese babies. In some cases, unscrupulous manufacturers had added melamine to baby formula to boost protein readings. Melamine can bind with chemicals in urine, causing stones in the kidney or bladder. In severe cases, it can cause kidney failure.

The four varieties of Wonderfarm brand biscuits included in the recall are as follows:

• Wonderfarm "Successful" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001262091)
• Wonderfarm "Royal Flavour" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001263098)
• Wonderfarm "Lovely Melody" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001263296)
• Wonderfarm "Daily Life" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001264200)

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on December 18, 2008 (boomark / email).