Science Daily reports that a Purdue University researcher has found a way to detect trace amounts of melamine in infant formula with equipment readily available to health officials and businesses. Using infrared lasers and light spectroscopy methods, Lisa Mauer, an associate professor of food science, was able to detect melamine in baby formula at one part per million in about five minutes or less. "We have found detection methods that are inexpensive and do not require a lot of the product or time for sampling," said Mauer. "Any company could do this itself. Police agencies, state departments of health and many colleges have this type of equipment."
Further information:
Science Daily ( May 1, 2009) Simple Lasers Used To Detect Melamine In Baby Formula (Full Article)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430161236.htm
Lisa J. Mauer*, Alona A. Chernyshova, Ashley Hiatt, Amanda Deering and Reeta Davis Melamine Detection in Infant Formula Powder Using Near- and Mid-Infrared Spectroscopyv J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf900587m
MoniQA Emerging Issues Working Group - Melamine
http://www.moniqa.org/melamine
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