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The contaminated pet food that killed many of America’s pets in 2007 sparked new research to be done on the kidney toxicity of melamine and cyanuric acid. ScienceDaily reports that this research points to a possible link between the pet food contamination that occurred in North America in 2007 and the recent adulteration of milk protein and resultant intoxication of thousands of babies from Asia.
In this Oxford study, clinical observations of acute renal failure in cats and dogs were associated with consumption of wet pet food produced by a contract manufacturer producing for a large number of companies. The affected lots of food had been formulated with wheat gluten originating from China. Pathological evaluation of cats and dogs that had died from the acute renal failure indicated the presence of crystals in kidney tubules. The research described in the paper identifies the principal contaminants as melamine and cyanuric acid. Neither of these compounds is very toxic when administered alone; however, when given in combination, the two compounds form a virtually insoluble complex. This complex forms in the tubules of the kidney, blocking urine flow and causing renal failure.
An increased incidence of kidney stones and renal failure in infants has been reported in China, believed to be associated with the ingestion of infant formula contaminated with melamine. Medical News Today reports that it has been discovered that melamine has been deliberately added to raw milk for a number of months in order to boost its apparent protein content.
The 2007 outbreak of renal failure in cats and dogs in the USA associated with ingestion of pet food found to contain melamine and cyanuric acid, . The melamine was added deliberately to one of the ingredients. It is not known whether the cyanuric acid was also added deliberately or whether it was a by-product of the melamine preparation added.
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