It’s heartbreaking to see these poor babies dying and sick .They are not taking the precautions of checking to see if the milk is ok for the babies it’s just not fair these poor innocent infants are paying wit thier lives.

It doesn’t seem like to me that China is really doing all that they can to solve this problem. After this long you’d think they’d have the culprit and have this stopped.

Cindy…Ga.

Doesn’t anybody have a conscious anymore? Who is protecting us? This is such a tragedy.

China allows only one child per couple….yes, sad. There are many dire human rights issues present in their culture…i.e. the perceived worthlessness of female infants — Hilary spoke to them about this years ago. And now, with NAFTA and the craving for a piece of world supremacy, China will find many formulas that devalue life. A country like that…of that proportion will eventually implode.

China is unable or unwilling to test or enforce safety standards. The world should boycott anything “made in China,” until they develop the standards of safety expected by a major economic power.

Yeah good luck with that boycott. Have you tried to live without purchasing a product made in china?

These are the people we have entrusted with many of our manufacturing jobs and to produce so many of the goods we buy? Where is their conscience, their morals, their ethics????? Simply put, they have none. This is a tragedy and a travesty. I agree with Hugh, we should boycott all goods made in China and demand from our government that our manufacturing jobs be returned to us for safety reasons. The Chinese have proved themselves irresponsible and untrustworthy over and over again.

Is it possible that Chinese mothers will return to breastfeeding? This would practically guarantee that their babies will be free from the melamine scourge?

Breastfeed, ladies. Its the way nature intended. I hate hearing all the lazy excuses. Pump if you have to work. Its not impossible. I had to work full time and tandem nursed 2 babies and PUMPED ON MY LUNCH BREAK.
IT CAN BE DONE.

How can a country whose art and literature reflect a high regard for the natural world have the capacity to disconnect from its humanity?

This is not a mistake, there are almost seven billion people in the world and a lot of them are in China. You have not seen the worst of this I am sorry to say.

On top of this being infants in China, there are many children adopted FROM China who reside all over the world. They drank this formula too, and maybe those left continue to do so.

Overpopulation seems to be the core issue of every problem we have. It is what leads to problems like this one. But no one wants to REALLY address it.

Why are companies still making their products in China? They know the problems there and yet they haven’t pulled out and returned to their own country to make the products. They share the blame in my book. Leaving China would really help to solve this problem. Poisoned animals, poisoned toys with lead, poisoned babies. What else do we want before something is done!! Come on!!

just think about Walmart, do you think they can live without china?

A lot of experts claim that China and India will be the new world powers in near future, but then you read about children dying from chemicals in China and hundreds of people getting killed in the busy streets of Mumbai and their governments are seemingly helpless or maybe don’t really care. In many regards these countries are still acting like the third world and have a long way to go.

this is a tragedy that could have prevented if breastfeeding was promoted and not formula feeding!! formula is a chemically mixed drink that is given to our babies. But the formula companies constantly advertise that their formulas are closest to breast milk. there is no formula that is close to breast milk. Breast milk has numerous components to it that the formula companies will never be able to imitate. Plus each mom’s milk is made specifically to her baby’s needs. So let’s promote breastfeeding and stop making formula feeding so wonderful. Our baby’s deserve better!!!

I have watched the Lisa Ling stories and Anderson Cooper and learned about how girls born in China don’t have as much value because the y can’t provide for the family like males can. Could this be China’s way of cutting down on the population?????

I lost my cat of 13 years, nothing compared to losing a beloved child, but it still hurt as I buried him and then paid the astronomical vet bill of the doctor who had tried to save him.

so sorry to read this news.

China Greed for Profits – Get Rich Fast
FDA, please do not let this occur in USA.

The idea that this tragedy is restricted to China or that China will develop and enforce safety standards to protect people in other countries (i.e. the US) is almost laughable. The fact is this stuff is being exported to the world. It is an international tragedy.

As for passing safety standards, the US just recently passed a standard restricting melamine to 1 part per million but the truth is, and the FDA admitted this, no one really has any idea what the real tolerance limit is.

The real questions are what is something like melamine doing in baby formula and soy products anyway? And why is crap like that being allowed into our country at all?

When the pet food murders of our pets were revealed to be caused by melamine in the gluten, I sent an immediate note to CNN to investigate immediately – if you wanted to kill everyone in America, gluten would be the way to do it. Ask someone with Celiac’s how nearly impossible it is to avoid. Several months later they indeed found we had eaten over 5 million chickens fed with the tainted feed. Then they culled the swine, thousands of them, they too had been fed tainted feed – so the melamine was in our food chain as well. Let’s not forget lead, the date rape drug in the dots game for kids, or the anti-freeze used to sweeten toothpaste and liquid medications such as cough syrups. Their fish farms have been deemed polluted and laden with veterinary drugs not suitable for human consumption. I came across some articles on other meds, like using yellow road paint to color warfarin, they’re making heaps of our generic meds now. While you may think you can boycott China, you can’t – their spices and other ingredients are in many of our foods, it is not required they list all of that on the label. I want to know WHY, after so many deadly infractions, we are allowing them to continue to export tainted goods? It’s positively criminal!

That is why our family didn’t go shopping on black friday. We won’t waste time and energy for “made in China” on sale products.

Cheap, deceitful, dirty, that is how a Communist government operates.
There are no environmental or clean standards that are adhered to.

I saw a display of cheap frozen vegetables at my local food store.
They were marked as a product of China. A whole bag of veggies for .$.99.
You get the pesticidies and chemicals. Why anyone would buy food from China and ingest it is crazy.

The poor CHinese have no choice, but when do we wake up about dirt and chemicals in our food? I would like to know the pesticides standards of the food from Mexico also.

Hugh from California stated it well.

I suppose nobody has ever thought that this could be just another form of governmental population control?

I sorry I guess I missed something. If it kills you don’t eat it and don’t buuy it. Why are these companies putting something into food that kills. why not use rat poison at least you could enjoy a few hallusinations before you kick the bucket. Unbelievable!

It is truly sad how much of our world is driven by nothing more than Greed. In todays Chinese society they have been taught to line your pockets as fast as you can anyway possible and just hope you don’t get caught.
I believe the trade door with China needs to have new locks insatalled.

Hugh-you are right. Stop all China trade NOW! They dont care about us. We need to make formula in this country-not trust it to communists!

Why Melamine in any food product at any level? The human body does not need melamine for nurishment at all. The USA should ban it’s use in food products period instead of playing around with what some FDA nerd considers a “Safe level” for us sheep.

What hidden ailments are affecting US citizen’s due to melimine?
What US products cointain Melamine and why?

Yet another reason why women should protect their babies by breastfeeding them.

just what happen to these products when they entered the US aren’t they supposed to pass USFDA inspection before entering the market for retail to the public? i would think so. stricter policy need to be enforced by the US Govt.

Amazing we are suppose to protect our babies and children, regardless of what country, this s a prime example when we as a people lose our humanity

Anyone that is fool enough to believe that OUR government could effectively establish “safe levels” of melamine in baby formula here is just that , foolish.
Of courese the levels now allowed refute a need for a radical recall and reformulation. That is until our children share the fate.. and the pain of their cousins overseas.

The Chinese and American governments are to blame for allowing lax safety monitoring and deregulation to harm children in China and in the US. Babies are getting sick and their parents are losing jobs because of corporate greed. The only baby formulas that have been found relatively safe so far are the most expensive. It is turning out that companies like the maker of Enfamil and the store brand formulas in the US have unsafe products. Don’t kill your baby. Don’t buy their products. Corporations also put this stuff in pet food and put lead paint on toys. Governments around the world are corrupt, including the US and Europe.

I really don’t think people should talk about China unless they have been there. Joanne from Syracuse says girl babies are devalued in China. She is wrong. They love all babies in China and many people want to have a girl because it’s not as expensive as having a boy there. The culture is extremely child oriented.

I have a newborn baby who is on soy formula. I am very frustrated that even trace amounts are present in the US. The part that angers me the most is that they won’t release the name of the formula it was found in…I don’t care how little the amount was…I have a right to know. I feel as though this problem may grow here in the US. It scares me to death.

China is a disgrace!! They have no ethical or moral standards, all they see is “money” and will try to increase their profits at any expense! I do not understand why the US continues to do business with them.

I agree with Hugh. We need to boycott ANYTHING, “made in CHINA.” Their products are cheap, but DANGEROUS. They have no regard for their people or anyone else. Americans, WAKE UP!!

This sad situation calls to mind the cold, calculating imposition of malnutrition on third world babies, whose mothers were convinced (I think by Nestle) that formula was better for them than breast milk.

As the grandmother to a 4 month infant, I applaud my daughter, and others like her, who understand the importance of breastfeeding and are committed to it.

Although breast milk will contain some of the junk that mothers take in via the processed foods that they may eat, at least we don’t have to worry that it will give babies a problem that may result in a painful death.

I called one company right here in the US and was told their formula has “safe levels” of melamine, but the FDA hasn’t set safe levels! We need to learn from the tragedy and get ahead of the curve on this – FDA are you listening?

With all the imports from China, our safety standards are useless. We can’t buy medicine from Canada but tainted stuff from China is O.K? I will be surprised if babies here in the U.S. don’t start dying from imported Chinese baby formula.

Even though people scream for less government, this is exactly WHY we must have government regulation. We must have clean food, air, and water.
Without that, who will survive?

I am sickened by the disgusting lack of concern for human life in China. It breaks my heart that the Chinese are not wiling to protect the least among us. My prayers go out to those parents who only wanted to feed their children.

Avoiding anything Made in China is virtually impossible. Even ‘high end’ toys are made there. Why isn’t American industry addressing the need for more Made in the USA items?!?!?!?! Talk about an industry that’s ready for someone to fill a vaccuum.

Okay China! How are you famous for having the world’s oldest people, and you are the souce of many major inventions but you are not smart enough to run tests on your infant formula! Come on now, obviously you don’t care! These are babies! The future! Something needs to be done! I agree with Hugh from Califonia, we should boycott all things MADE IN CHINA!

My heart goes out to the parents and babies. I cannot phantom if that was my son…God bless them.

And our Government has said that “some melamine” in our food is NOT harmeful. They have said there are acceptable levels of it. OUR GOVERNMENT is not watching out for us.

There are people in the U.S. with kidney problems that if they get ANY melamine in their food will die! There are NO acceptable levels in food or food products.

Again… OUR government had demonstrated a history of not looking out for US. So, why are we faulting China, too. We need to clean up our own act before pointing the fingers elsewhere.

As an adult who experienced the pain of kidney stones I can only imagine the pain that those poor babies felt and I feel very very sorry for them.Modern societies should be more careful about chemical products released in the environment and be more alert of chemicals used as food additives or in food preparation especially for the very young ones.

if china is all about saving face, then they are wearing a mask that says “we are the most stupid”. lead…melamine…how could they think they would get away with it ?

Forget China! It’s happening here in the United States of America and the good ol’ government (FDA) thinks the levels found in OUR baby formulas are “safe.” What kind of a country, thinks that ANY amount of a known poison is acceptable in our foods-especially infant formula?

Well, score another one for laissez faire, unregulated capitalism. How could this happen? Because this is how capitalism, unrestrained by government regulation, works, that’s how.

How many of us have been buying crap from China most of our lives? Even the cheap coffee cups and dishes from the dollar stores are painted with products that are found not be safe especially if you use the micro-wave to heat up what’s in them. I have thrown many of the junk in my cabinests made in China out but unfortunately like most people that were unaware, I used them for a long time first. Now, I buy U.S.A products when I can find them or else I don’t buy anymore. I would pay more for any product made in the U.S, if only I could find it. The latest thing that really pissed me off is that even the poplular brand of cotton underware sold at Walmart, is being made there…. go figure…..This will never end until we all change our habits and go back to buying American Made Products only.

I sincerely wish the CNN news staff would stop making stories about themselves and return to higher standards of journalism. I have stopped watching your broadcasts because of your insistence on congratulating yourselves and your co-workers for a “good story.” That is for us to decide. And it is also my opinion there are far too many first person stories and reports. I think you underestimate the public’s interest in the actual story and our lack of interest in the personalities of the reporters/anchors.
Thank you for your consideration.

A very good reason to add to the benefits list of why to breastfeed your infant. No one will cares for your baby as well as the mother!

In a godless country, the government is supreme and the individuals expendable. But don’t get hung up on China, look at this country. As we take God out of the courts, out of the laws, out of the schools,, out of the homes and out of the hearts of Americans look at the injustices and the craziness of the people rising including the problems hee wih the young and 8year olds murdering 2 adults and a 9 year old hanging himself. Our country and any country who superceedes themselves above God and His laws self destructs and unless there is a major revival in this land you can expect more and more of the type of abuses that other countries now accept as routine.

Why is it that our government is doing little about the contamination found right here in our own country!!!! The FDA initially said that any melamine found in baby formula is unacceptable now trace amounts are ok? Why aren’t they releasing the test data and which manufacturer has it in their product? I find this back-peddling to be unacceptable. I am a mother of a 2 month old and I am worried sick that what I am feeding her is going to cause her harm. I thought our governement would protect us but I don’t know who to trust anymore!

The situation with the food contamination is deplorable. I wonder what the motive of the report is though…There has been a general media campaign against Chinese-made goods…for whatever reason

The implied extrapolation of the formula problem into the country side is not justified. The poor in the non-white/European world do not use formula as their first choice for feeding babies…they generally nurse…it’s both healthier and less expensive. The formula problem is generally restricted to the urban middle class…because they are the ones who can afford it

Having said that, it is common practice for U.S. formula companies to give away free samples in the Third World to mothers of newborn, with the hope that their milk will stop while trying out the formula and then they would be forced to purchase the rather expensive product. Perhaps the formula companies in China have also picked up on this practice?

What is really sickening is that we have the same problem here and the government won’t say who the manufactures are or what brands are involved. I find it vary disappointing that main stream media is not pounding away to get to the bottom of this. When this story first broke i though that could never happen here, boy was I wrong.

GET ON THE CASE MR. COOPER

Back to breastfeeding, cheaper and safer. I am still making every effort not to buy anything made in China.

yes, baby foods and milk should be tested- but are not…..and why don’t ALL countries try to encourage ALL mothers who possibly can to nurse their babies? It may be ‘inconvient’ and a ‘hassle’ or at first ‘embarassing’ for some women, but where there is a will there is a way- I nursed both of mine for about 2 years- it is far better for the babies and you don’t have to buy formula or bottles!! I am sure the whole ‘baby formula’ instead of mom’s milk campaign was simply a way for companies to make money in the first place!

The Chinese government needs to try and execute all the company chiefs, workers and government officials involved in this fraud. Anyone who knowingly put poison in the formula must be held accountable. If not, the people may seek justice for themselves.

This isn’t right how could people do this i say that china should stop and think of what they are doing. what could of caused this and howcan they stop it???

what is the formula’s name that is being used, that is causing these deaths? Is it just distributed in China or is it also sold here in the USA? Please let me know as soon as possible, I have a 6 month old infant. Thank you.

Can’t the world do anything to help these innocent little babies and their parents. This is a crime against humanity. USA should ban all China products, they are trying to kill us with the bad paint, tainted pet food, drug ingredients and now killing their own. There has to be something that our country and allies can do to stop these greedy people from killing these children. God help us, let your kingdom come soon.

Don’t people know why God made breasts!

How about the fact that we have over 60% of China’s goods imported to the US everyday!

The U.S. should learn from the Chinese tragedy.

Never mind the “schadenfraude”, we (the U.S.) need to make sure we have our own house in order. We need to know, not just hope, what is in the food we eat.

Currently, we are nowhere near to achieving this. Even a devote libertarian believes government has a legitimate function in keeping the public safe, and a safe food supply surely qualifies.

This is not an issue of free market trust; this is an issue of literally life and death.

I am so disgusted wtih China – I will not buy anything made in China anymore.

Boycott Chinese made products and food. It is the only solution.

Granted, things are far from ideal over there… but with a population density that’s quadruple what we have, I highly doubt things would be much better for the US under the same circumstances.

Also, concerning birth and “human rights”… you, as an American, wouldn’t like it much if China could procreate all that they wanted, because that would mean that they’d feel the pinch for resources very quickly, meaning that they’d go to war faster. They’re already buying farmland in Africa to be able to keep feeding their people, even with the “one child” law.

Look at things with an open mind.

Does anyone know what kind of baby formula in the U.S. has melamine in it? Please let me know!

So many items sold in US are made in China. How can we be sure melamine is NOT in OUR babies formula?

Hugh – That’s a noble idea, but it won’t work. Try going for one month not buying ANYTHING made in China. You’ll find it a lot harder than you think. Try buying only American made items, foods, etc and watch your bills climb higher and higher. Most Americans can’t afford to live without Wal-Mart… who’s main purchasing dept is is China. Over 80% or more of the products that they sell are from China. Sad but true.

Dana – Who’s protecting us?! Nobody! That should be obvious by now… The FDA just announced that that will allow very small amounts of this stuff in our foods. Totally unacceptable, yet the Gov’t is OK with it. Plastic has no place in food, period. Why is the FDA allowing it?

China has major corruption issues everywhere. This should not surprise anyone.

Why aren’t we boycotting Chinese products until they develop safe standards? We need manufacturing jobs here in the United States, and this would help solve our problems and save our people’s very lives.

This very sad and also preventable. Human milk is made for humans. We are the only mammal that drinks other mammals milk. Babies could be fed mother’s milk. The components in human milk is speciy specific. The composition of the proteins whey and casein are easier to digest in breast milk as opposed to formula. Breast milk is loaded with antibodies. The lactase helps with brain and growth developement. Human milk is always available, at the right temperature, does not cost anything and most of all it is SAFE. Not to mention the bond that is created between moms and babies.

Don’t just worry about China, the FDA is telling you its Safe to feed your Baby Melamine in small amounts. How does the FDA know that Small AMounts of Melamine is Safe for your Baby to Eat? I am sure it still does damage to your babies Kidneys, it just take longer to see the effects.

Melamine is a Crystal that clogs Holes in the Kidney’s. The larger amount of crytals, the faster it causes damage. I am sure even small amounts of crytals get stuck in the kidneys.

it’s really very sad to see that in a country allowing one child only per family and even if it means the loss of a child inbetween several children in the family,is this the price of the high technology !!!!!!!! it’s a shame.

What I’d like to know is – how can we consumers know if melamine is in a product? Is it required to be listed? I think this happens more than we even know – just look at the high cancer rates, etc. Very very sad. Maybe it’s time to start growing our own food again.

And on Nov 28th the FDA has allowed higher amounts of this poison in Americas baby formulas!
Dont worry about China, worry about people here!

What about the baby formula sold in the USA that now has “traces” and “acceptable levels” of this deadly chemical in it? What is being done about THAT! No baby should be sickened or poisoned from drinking baby formula!

This is so horrific, I can’t believe China would infect these innocent children on purpose. But then again, they are all about population control.

Wow the corporate greed…..there was more than one saftey breakdown….the people that watchdog the feed for animals and the heartless people who packaged the formula ….they should all go to jail. I couldnt sleep at night….my mother didnt raise me to do that to people. Where do these people come from dont they have any morals. Make them all eat the stuff till they get kidney stones and die from it…..lucky i am not a judge huh.

Its impossible to boycott Chinese products. Try to find a coffee maker not made in China.

It is beyond disgusting and inhumane to think that there are people out there who actually make conscious decisions to do things like this.

First the high levels of lead found in the Matel toys our children play with and put in their mouths, now poision in their formulas! These are innocent babies, who are suffering for peoples bad judgement. China should not be able to produce anything without strict testing that maybe consumable to any human or animal!

More evidence that we need stricter oversight here in the U.S. to ensure we don’t end up with a similar occurence.

I agree with Hugh in california. Nothing else will get the attention of the Chinese government and businessmen.

Could this be called a type of biological terrorism? I would say yes.. We cannot belive the FDA in USA as well. Just to reduce panic they say the milk products have less amount of melamine.. Why Melamine? Can this be fixed.. I as an adult also feel sick with the food in USA.

Fortunately in the seafood industry 1 part per million is too much melamine but sadly, with infant formula, 2500 parts per million is acceptable. The FDA is underfunded and understaffed but lets not create a genocide that can be prevented.
During the senate hearings on the tomato and pepper issue in the spring, a statement came out that is more true now than ever: “the first line of defense in homeland security is food safety”.

China is a toilet…no standards!!

The number of infant deaths due to the melamine adultration of milk will never be told to the world or the China public. China has two sides – one in front of the curtain and one behind the curtain- just like the Wizard of Oz.. I have traveled there and seen both sides of the curtain…they do business this way as well.

Indeed it’s an interesting question who is protecting us. If this keeps happening and I get sick from melamine in my “FDA Inspected” food . . . well, some food processors an regulators may need some protection of their own! It’s time that folks who fail us face real consequences. We can’t just sit quietly and eat melamine!

The word “government” in China is a term used loosely as in any third world country. Most of the country is un-governed or so poorly governed (by civilized standards) that it might as well not be. There is little that they can do even if they wanted to. China lacks even a basic legal system so how can we expect them to suddenly pull a sophisticated food monitoring program out of a hat. Impossible.

If there’s ever been a reason to breastfeed, this is it! How sad that our manufactured food supply is too often tainted by profit motives. Breast milk is safe as well as superior to formula for nutrition and long-term health benefits. And the skin-to-skin experience of a mother nurturing her baby is something to behold. I must add that am a grandmother who did not breast feed and regrets it. What mother nature intended, once again, proves best.

Why is the U.S. government selling (giving) away the united states to China? At the rate we are going, the government in China will own America and they will have won their silent war against us without a shot.

The inspection of our food here in the US has been scaled back so far by the Bush administration I would not be suprised if we are not being fed the same meamine that the Chines are feeding to their own people. Before we try to regulate another country (again) we need to take care of our own.

It shows the $ is more important than human life. The world should boycott everything from China and baby formula no matter how “acceptable” they say melamine levels are. Mothers need to breast feed. Ever wonder how much melamine is in your coffee whiteners, hot chocolate mix, etc.? I agree, BOYCOTT CHINA.

between the poisoned toys and products and produce coming into the U.S. uninspected, by our inspectors, (who by the way are doing a terrible job) from China, they won’t have to declare war with us, they can just quietly sit by and wait for us to be poisoned minute by minute, one by one. They are known for their patience.

I totally agree with Hugh. We should boycott using any products from China. Its high time they meet the standards of safety. I cannot believe that adulterations happen in infant’s formula too… totally inhumane act.

My daughter’s husband is in the military and was in Iraq for 2 tours. He has experienced severe kidney stones recently and someone should see if some of our military food may be affected by similar melamine issues. Are there military statistics on similar cases? He is a young man and his situation is unusual I believe. This would be a good investigation for Mr. Cooper to pursue.