Scientists and medical researchers have been invited to contribute to the ongoing research on melamine, a toxic substance found in milk products originating in China.
The Ministry of Health has appealed to the public – especially scientists, medical researchers, and importers and exporters – to share with the authorities any information they might have on the toxic chemical that has claimed the lives of several babies in China.
The ministry is seeking public help to supplement its own research resources, explained P. Madarasinghe, assistant director of the ministry’s Food Control Administration Unit.
So far, 122 milk powder samples, including full-cream milk powder, liquid milk and infant formula, have been tested in laboratories in Singapore and India, as well as at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) in Sri Lanka, Mr. Madarasinghe said.
“Melamine was not detected in any of the milk powder samples sent for testing,” he said, adding that Rs. 3.8 million has been spent on the tests.
Last week, the Colombo High Court ordered that all milk products sold in the country be tested, with samples sent to the ALS Laboratory in Singapore.
Mr. Madarasinghe said the Health Ministry would not permit the presence of melamine in infant milk formulas. In the case of products for children under three years and pregnant and lactating mothers, the level of melamine should be less than one part per one million (1 PPM), or one milligram per kilogram, he added.
Melamine is a toxic chemical commonly used in food contact material and agricultural products, such as fertiliser.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), melamine may be found in minute levels in milk and milk-related products. The level should not exceed 2.5 parts per million, the level considered harmless for human consumption.
Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) chairman Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera said that in addition to setting standards for melamine levels in milk and other milk products, importers of milk powder would be required to produce a certificate from an accredited body or institution stating the products were free of melamine.
“The imported items will also be subjected to thorough tests by the SLSI before they are cleared by Customs,” he said.
Dr. Wijesekera said the SLSI laboratory was equipped to conduct the tests, and would proceed with testing as soon as the required chemicals arrived from overseas.
Last week, the Colombo High Court extended a stay order imposed by the Colombo Additional Magistrate banning the sale of Edna chocolates, pending further inquiries. Concerns were raised about the possible presence of melamine in the chocolate products. The case has been fixed for November 4.
About 60 milk products identified as positive for melamine have been withdrawn from supermarkets and grocery stores across the country.
Tainted eggs not likely in Lanka
Concerns over food items contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine are growing, following news on Friday that the Chinese authorities were widening their melamine investigations with checks on poultry feed producers. It was recently found that eggs imported from China were tainted with melamine.
An official attached to the Department of Animal Production and Health said Sri Lanka does not import poultry feed from China, and ruled out the chances of poultry feed used in Sri Lanka being tainted with melamine. Health authorities in China say melamine in eggs may be the result of melamine in chicken feed, according to P. Madarasinghe, assistant director of the ministry’s Food Control Administration Unit. He said the Health Ministry would be looking into the matter over the next couple of days.
In 2007, pet food made with wheat gluten from China contaminated with melamine killed thousands of pets across the US. Later, melamine was also detected in chicken feed consumed by millions of chickens. | 
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