Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Tainted Halloween Candy

Here is a heads up about some Halloween candy that could be
bad for kids: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning
consumers not to consume White Rabbit Creamy Candy or Koala's March Crème
filled Cookies because they may contain melamine. (1) And, the Canadian
government is warning the public not to consume Sherwood Brands Pirate's
Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, which may also have reached the U.S. (2)

What's wrong with these candies? You've likely heard about the dangerous
chemical, melamine, which was recently found in the Chinese milk supply
and sickened thousands of children in China. We've now seen reports that
melamine tainted milk has been used in some Chinese candy products that
have been shipped to the United States. (3)

The good news is that Chinese candy makes up only 0.7% of the candy sold
in the U.S. (4). The World Health Organization says that the risk of serious harm from minor exposure to
melamine is considered low. BUT there is no known safe amount of melamine for children. The FDA has put the "limit" exclusive of baby formula at 2.5 parts per million, but Chinese made candy has been found to have 500 parts per million. (6)

See the Tainted Candy Pictures, Get the Flyer & Tell Friends Here:
http://www.momsrising.org/melamine

1. http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine.html

2. Here's the Canadian government's warning:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20081008e.shtml
The Vancouver Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081028.wlhalloween28/BNStory/lifeFamily/home
And an article in the Chicago Tribune:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2008/10/chocolate-coins.html

3. From Consumer Reports:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/10/chinese_formula07.html, and
Candy problem verified on Snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/coins.asp

4. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-24-melamine-china_N.htm

5. "Consumers exposed to tiny amounts of melamine shouldn't worry, says
Angelika Tritscher of the World Health Organization. 'Melamine at low
doses is actually not considered to be very toxic.'" Quote from:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-24-melamine-china_N.htm

6. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/10/chinese_formula09.html

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