First China decides to poison their own babies, then they try to poison the world. Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but that sure is how it feels sometimes!
By now, we've all heard about the tainted milk in China. Thousands are sick and I believe, at the moment, 4 have died. Milk powder has been laced with Melamine. Why? To fool government testing. It's presence gave the milk a higher protein count, allowing the company to increase the milk's volume with water and still pass the government testing.
Ingesting melamine can lead to reproductive damage, bladder and kidney stones, bladder cancer and kidney failure. Many survivors of the tainted milk scandal have been diagnosed with accute kidney failure.
Now it seems that New Zealand has found melamine in some candy imported from China. White Rabbit Creamy Candies to be exact. These candies have been pulled from the shelves in other countries as well. No reports of illnesses thus far.
Let's go back in time a bit to the 2007 Pet Food Recall. I was not affected, so didn't pay much attention. I don't recall melamine being mentioned, only contaminated wheat gluten. Well, it turns out the wheat gluten was laced with, are you ready?, melamine.
So if they've tried to poison us with lead and melamine so far, what's next?! I was just beginning to loosen up on my No More Made In China rule. Now I have to wonder what foods in my kitchen contain ingredients from China! Looks like my grocery trips are going to take a bit longer now as I scour labels for the dreaded C word.