Swiss researchers have developed a faster technique to detect the presence of melamine in liquids, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (EPFZ) announced Monday.
The chemical has been at the centre of a food safety scandal in China since September last year. Detecting it in liquid previously took anything from between 20 and 60 minutes, but the Swiss team's new method has cut the time to 30 seconds.
FDA Sets Levels of Melamine in Infant Formula
US health authorities have raised the safety threshold for melamine for infant formula amid widespread concern over the use of the industrial chemical in Chinese dairy products.
US health authorities have raised the safety threshold for melamine for infant formula amid widespread concern over the use of the industrial chemical in Chinese dairy products.
Mass spectrometry is a technique used to measure the masses of atoms and molecules in a material or liquid.
Farmers and milk wholesalers in China caused controversy last year after it emerged some had been tried mixing melamine into their milk products to make them appear richer in protein content. The chemical is normally used to manufacture glue, resin and plastics.
China To Launch Four-Month Food Safety Campaign
China will launch a four-month food safety campaign from Wednesday to prevent the toxic chemical melamine and other harmful substances from ending up on the dinner table, the government said.
China will launch a four-month food safety campaign from Wednesday to prevent the toxic chemical melamine and other harmful substances from ending up on the dinner table, the government said.
The discovery shocked consumers both in China and abroad, with many countries banning Chinese products containing milk.
Advertisement
US Slams 'Import Alert' on Chinese Foods Fearing Melamine Contamination
US authorities Thursday issued a nationwide import alert for Chinese-made food products for possible melamine contamination and warned against consuming several products from China
US authorities Thursday issued a nationwide import alert for Chinese-made food products for possible melamine contamination and warned against consuming several products from China
SRM
Limits for Melamine in Food Fixed Only Recently: WHO
Many countries have only recently fixed limits for industrial chemical melamine in food products, a World Health Organisation expert said.
Many countries have only recently fixed limits for industrial chemical melamine in food products, a World Health Organisation expert said.
