India is unlikely to be impacted by the new melamine and aflatoxin limit set by the UN Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), a body run jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
In an effort to help prevent dangerous contamination of food with melamine, a toxic chemical, Codex set new limits for the amount of the substance that can be present in baby formula, other foods and animal feed without causing health problems. The maximum melamine allowed in baby formula was set at 1 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg in other foods and animal feed.
“India does not produce, consume or export melamine. Hence, exporters need not fear for this chemical used in a variety of industrial processes, including the manufacture of plastics used for dishware, kitchenware and can coatings.
Traces of it unavoidably get into food by contact without causing health problems, but the substance is toxic at high concentrations.
The recent scare caused by Chinese made goods, particularly milk powder tainted with melamine causing illness of more than 13,000 and death of 4 children in China. This was caused by manufacturers putting dangerously high levels of the toxic chemical in milk powder and other foods. Earlier this chemical was also found in Chinese made pet foods leading to its massive recall in the United States.
Melamine is a toxic chemical and because it is a hard synthetic substance with flame retardant properties, is commonly used in making countertops, dry erase boards, and other house wares including utensils. This toxic substance is sometimes illegally added to food products in order to increase their obvious protein content. When mixed with diluted milk it thickens the milk and make it appear rich in protein. More importantly, it would seem that normal testing of the product cannot detect the substance but shows it as protein.
If consumed it causes renal and urinary problems in humans and animals when it reacts with the cyanuric acid present in the human body and sometimes in drinking water and animal feed. Due to this harmful nature its use in food production is universally banned.
India needs no worry as melamine is not produced, consumed or exported from here, said Sanjay Shah, former Chairman of Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), a trade body set up by the Ministry of Commerce.
As far as aflatoxin goes, it seems UN has relaxed the norm, said Shah. Maximum levels of 10 micrograms/kg were set for aflatoxins in Brazil nuts (shelled, ready-to-eat) and 15 micrograms/kg for shelled Brazil nuts (intended for further processing), while the Commission also adopted a code of practice to prevent this contamination. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic fungal toxins that can contaminate corn, peanuts and other food crops such as tree nuts under certain conditions.
The new Codex measures provide specific guidance for production, harvesting, packing, processing, storage, distribution, marketing and consumer education to reduce food safety risks associated with these products. Guidance covers such aspects as the control of irrigation waters, cooling and storage and correct washing of hands by consumers.
