Chapter-2

KIDNEY DISEASE & MELAMINE

(A MILK SCANDAL)

Prepared by

Tamanna Farhana(Sr. Nutritionist, Baby Nutrition Ltd. Lalmai Group)

Lesson-1

One in every seven people in our country has been

suffering from kidney diseases and 40,000 die of

longtime kidney failures annually.

About two crore people are now somehow suffering

from kidney ailments which was about one crore 10

years ago. The rate of chronic kidney disease has

now increased to 18 percent from nine percent

during the period.

"If the present rate of the disease continues it will

rise to 28-30 percent in next 10 years turning the

situation alarming.

Ref: The Daily Statr, One in seven suffers from kidney disease in Bangladesh, Wednesday, November 26, 2008.

NIKDU(National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology ) is the only tertiary level specialized hospital in Bangladesh- dedicated to serve kidney patients. Total 4224 patients were admitted in this hospital last year (2011). Among them 2370 male, 1378 female and 476 were children. Only 217 patients died.

Ref: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), HEALTH BULLETIN 2012. The data belong to Jan-Dec 2011. National Institute of Kidney Diseases .

Lesson-2

What is melamine?

Melamine is an organic base chemical most

commonly found in the form of white crystals rich

in nitrogen.

What is melamine generally used for?

Melamine is widely used in plastics, adhesives,

countertops, dishware, whiteboards.

Lesson-3

In China, where adulteration has occurred, water has been added to raw milk to increase its volume.

As a result of this dilution the milk has a lower protein concentration.

Companies using the milk for further production (e.g. of powdered infant formula) normally check the protein level through a test measuring nitrogen content.

The addition of melamine increases the nitrogen content of the milk and therefore its apparent protein content.

Addition of melamine into food

is not approved by the

FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius

(food standard commission), or

by any national authorities.

Lesson-4

Melamine alone causes bladder stones in animal tests.

When combined with cyanuric acid, which may also be present in melamine powder, melamine can form crystals that can give rise to kidney stones.

These small crystals can block the small tubes in the kidney potentially stopping the production of urine, causing kidney failure and, in some cases, death.

Melamine has also been shown to have carcinogenic effects in animals in certain circumstances, but there is insufficient evidence to make a judgment on carcinogenic risk in humans.

What are the health effects of melamine

consumptions in humans?

What are the symptoms and

signs of melamine poisoning?

Irritability,

Blood in urine,

Little or no urine,

Signs of kidney infection,

High blood pressure.

Adding melamine is not an isolated accident

As it is one of the largest food safety events

in the world in recent years, everyone must

believe that adding melamine in the milk

was not an isolated accident, but a large-

scale intentional activity to deceive

consumers for simple, basic, short-term

profits.Ref: News from Bangladesh MIlk Scandal: Everyone will Have to come forward.

Eight brands of powdered milk were found to

be melamine-positive by the chemistry

department of Dhaka University (DU).

Melamine was known to be detected in Dano

of Arla Foods, Red Cow, Diploma and Anlene

of New Zealand Dairy Product Bangladesh

and in three brands from China -- Yashili-1,

Yashili-2 and Sweet Baby-2. Detected

melamine in eight brands including Nestle's

dairy brand Nido fortified instant.

Ref: The Daily Statr, Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Toxic milk scare hurts sales by Sohel Parvez

References

1. Questions and Answers on melamine by WHO.

2. News from Bangladesh MIlk Scandal: Everyone will Have to come forward. Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

3. The Daily Statr, Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Toxic milk scare hurts sales by Sohel Parvez.

4. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), HEALTH BULLETIN 2012. The data belong to Jan-Dec 2011. National Institute of Kidney Diseases .

5. The Daily Statr, One in seven suffers from kidney disease in Bangladesh, Wednesday, November 26, 2008.