Melamine, Powdered Milk, and Nephrolithiasis in Chinese Infants

Melamine, a synthetic nitrogenous product found in many industrial goods and even in fertilizer destined for use in growing crops for human consumption, was recently found to have been added to foods in China — including many different powdered infant formulas 1 — to increase their measured, but not biologically available, protein content. Melamine is largely not degraded in humans, although several other compounds (ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid) may become cocontaminants during the manufacturing process, and the main route of excretion after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract appears to be through the urine. 2 The findings of acute kidney failure and . . .