Melamine: One treasure you won’t want to find

With Halloween in the offing, we'd like our Canadian readers to take note. Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, made by Sherwood Brands, have just joined the ever-expanding list of recalled, made-in-China products containing the contaminant melamine.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall of the candy, which the company says was sold in Canada but not the U.S.  Canadian Costco stores carried the coins in 240-piece containers; they may also have been sold in bulk packages or by the piece in dollar and bulk stores throughout Canada. Sherwood says the candy was produced before the melamine warning was issued in September, and that all production and shipments have since stopped.

The contaminant has been showing up in a frightening array of products around the world, from baby formula to pet food to edible adult novelty spreads (really!)

Melamine is a chemical added to plastics and other non-edible products. It’s not approved for use in food, but because it is high in nitrogen and can artificially boost apparent protein content, is sometimes added illegally. For more information on melamine, read the CDC's FAQ.

Comments

[Tricia M]

Go to flea markets? Google "melamine dinnerware" and you'll find a brisk trade in Melmac and other wares made from this material, even though it's known to scratch easily and most likely will leach into contents when microwaved. I ate daily from these dishes and had episodes of unexplained blood in my urine as a child . . .

[Howie]

Trouble is, the problem lies in the sourcing of ingredients. Granted, these particular chocolate coins were made in China and imported here, but there are many instances of products made by some of the biggest and most respected companies right here in Canada containing ingredients that arrive here in bulk from China. This is much more far-reaching problem than many know.

[MAL]

When will companies get it through their heads that consumers as a whole would rather pay more and have SAFE nutritious foods and products? The last 2 years has shown more and more and more problems with the "cheaper" food and products ccoming out of China. Big companies seem to be willing to sacrifice their reputations and consumer safety in order to save money on production costs. Sorry..but if it comes from China I will pass and pay extra to get locally grown and produced products. I would rather go to flea markets for home products than buy the new low-quality garbage that is being sold now in stores.

Time for big business to give its head a good shake!!