"MeLaMiNe" - a pandemic scare found in MILKS!

MiLk! Milk has been an important and a necessary drink to mankind. Mankind around the globe, mind you (even Malaysia), have been drinking milk since the earlier centuries. Milk contains a lot of nutritional values. This unique drink contains abundant amount of calcium which can digested into the human body to build bones and teeth. Even, women are resorting to milk to build their fragile, weak bones. Owing to menstruation, many women worldwide have been prone to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, osteo for bones and porosis, a condition which causes pores. As a result, bones tend to be weak and are brittle.

Milk can help women reduce the scare of osteoporosis, by building their weak bones to stronger bones. Men have always known for ages that women keep avoiding milk for a long time. But, now, they just cannot avoid. Mind you, my MUM tells her three children to drink milk. Pitifully, she does not have the habit to ingest milk. Drinks like Anlene and Anlene Gold (for women with osteoporosis) have been circulated around to help women with their "osteo" problem.

But, "melamine" is coming in the way between mankind and milk! How? Hmmm! Quite difficult to understand why?

Melamine is an organic compound. It is an alkali (base) with the general formula of C3H6N6. According to the IUPAC (International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) Nomenclature, the chemical formula is 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. This chemical's molecular mass is about 126. It is white, a powdered crystal and slightly soluble in water.

As its nitrogen content is high, it is released as flame-stifling nitrogen gas when the compound is combusted and scorched. As a result, it is used in fire retardants in polymer resins. Since its nitrogen content is high, it is mistaken to have high protein content. But, IT IS NOT!!

Melamine has 66% mass of nitrogen which gives it an analytical characteristic of a protein molecule. This molecule is described as a ring of three cyanamide units joined together. Melamine is very harmful and causes cancer and reproductive damage. It also irritates the skin, respiratory system and the human eye.

In China, countless infants suffered from acute kidney failure with several fatalities after consuming melamine-contained milk. Thousands of cats and dogs died after ingesting melamine-contained pet foods. Ice cream produced by "Yili" also contained melamine according to U.S. Bloomberg.

As the milk produced by "Yili", a Olympics Games sponsor is tainted with melamin, Starbucks Coffee Company stopped purchasing them. A great suprise for Starbucks! NOw, I can drink Starbucks' coffee as long as I want.

But, there is nothing to worry. Milk can still be potable. Milk companies like Sanyuan and Nestle had performed tests on their products AND it tested NEGATIVE! Great!

Melamine has not just attacked milk, but also candies, coffee creamers and chocolates. No wonder, Starbucks stopped importing milk from China. Not only that, Progressive Laboratories (Qualibet Testing Center) has discovered that eight food products have been tested positive for melamine. These products include processed meats and iced drinks sold by a typical coffee shop. Not a delight at all.

Luncheon meat, corned beef, some milk candies and chocolates and formulated milk for expecting mums are all melamine-contained. Be careful, children and future mums. Moreover, samples of whey powder and skimmed milk replacer have faced the same problem. The public should know that melamine is highly toxic and used in the making of household things like glues, counter tops, plates and fabrics. All these are plastic renin-contained.

In a nutshell, we, as members of the public should be cautious and well-informed about the bizarre, uncanny changes in our risk-shapen society. We should read up a lot and be fussy when purchasing our household items like "milk". This applies to adults, young adults, teenagers and senior citizens.