Melamine

Melamine is a synthetic chemical used in a variety of industrial applications including the production of resins and foams, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides. It is not naturally occurring and is not allowed to be added to food.

Melamine is the same chemical that was implicated in the pet food recall in 2007. The issue of melamine presence in Chinese dairy products is considered a new and separate issue from the pet food recall.

Canada does not allow melamine to be used as a food ingredient. However, very low levels of melamine could be found in food due to its industrial uses, such as from pesticides and fertilizers. The levels of melamine from these sources would not represent a human Health Risk.

In this topic...

• Background Information on Melamine
• Questions and Answers on Melamine
• World Health Organization(WHO) Expert Meeting / 2010 guidance to help improve food safety provided by UN food standards commission

Additional Resources

• Health Canada has re-assessed its maximum level for melamine in infant formula
• Health Canada's Human Health Risk Assessment Supporting Standard Development for Melamine in Foods
• Survey and Health Risk Assessment of Background Levels of Melamine in Infant Formula Allowed for Sale in Canada

Related Resources

• July 06, 2010 -New guidance to help improve food safety provided by UN food standards commission
• World Health Organization(WHO) Expert Meeting to Review Toxicological Aspects of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid
• For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website