Acute Renal Failure from Adulteration of Milk with Melamine

Recently, four deaths, 50,000 illnesses, and 12,000 hospitalizations from presumed exposure to melamine in infant formula have been reported in China. While there are very few data on the nephrotoxic effects of melamine in humans, studies on animals have shown that melamine, in particular in combination with cyanuric acid, causes deposition and precipitation of birefringent crystals thereby causing renal failure. This has prompted the FDA to revisit their stance on melamine and has led to the development of standard protocols to test for melamine and cyanuric acid in infant formula. has led to the development of standard protocols to test for melamine and cyanuric acid in infant formula.