Melamine (chemical contaminant, not a pathogen) China · 2008

Melamine contamination of infant formula and dairy products, China, 2008

This was a deliberate chemical contamination incident, not an infectious outbreak. WHO reported that China's Ministry of Health linked kidney stones in infants to melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula. By 29 September 2008 WHO said more than 54,000 infants and young children had sought medical treatment, more than 13,000 were in hospital and three infant deaths had been confirmed. WHO said at least 22 dairy manufacturers were found to have melamine in some products and that INFOSAN alerted five countries that had received exports.^1,2,3

Counts as reported on 29 September 2008.³ Food vehicle: Powdered infant formula and other dairy products.

Timeline

1. March 2008A manufacturer received a complaint of illness, according to WHO.¹
2. 17 September 2008Over 6,240 cases of kidney stones in infants and three deaths reported, according to WHO.¹
3. 22 September 2008WHO update reported nearly 40,000 children had sought medical treatment and almost 12,900 were in hospital.²
4. 29 September 2008WHO update reported more than 54,000 infants and young children had sought treatment.³

Regulatory and legal outcomes

1. 18 September 2008China Ministry of Health and national inspection agency (as reported by WHO). Inspections conducted and a recall ordered for exported products, with a recall under way for all contaminated products in China.¹

Sources

1. World Health Organization, Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China (Disease Outbreak News) (18 September 2008)
2. World Health Organization, Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China, update (Disease Outbreak News) (22 September 2008)
3. World Health Organization, Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China, update 2 (Disease Outbreak News) (29 September 2008)