Melamine in our Protein Powders

So I was having a good day before the weekend till a friend sent me this:

www.netwerk24.com/nuus/wetenskap/2015-07...evind?fb_ref=Default

Almost half of the brands of Whey Powder on our shelves contains Melamine. *&%^&@# A-holes!!!! This gets my blood boiling as not only are we, as protein powder users, being ripped off, we are also being poisoned! I say they should make the results public and shame these bastards!!!!!!

Jeeez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's one thing being a money grabbing C#@t and poisoning people!!!
But it's the same, when you release a study and not name the products / brands!!
So which ones are safe???!!!???

Prof. Mike Lambert, Dr. Gary Gabriels - grow a pair, name the brands!!!
Or is your science so shit, you'll lose in court?

22 of 27 locally produced products are poisoned!!!!

So this causes a panic - as it F#@%king should, and no one will buy a local brand.
What about the 5 products that were clean - they're as good as dead too!!!!

BTW - Here's the actual study www.nutritionj.com/content/14/1/69

And here's his email address Gary Gabriels gary.gabriels@uct.ac.za

My message to gary.gabriels
Your study concerns me greatly!!!

However, it is useless to me !!!!

Why don't you name the products?

I don't care that they are with the daily limit.
I use a lot of these products, maybe I exceed the limit.
Maybe I have impaired kidney function already and don't need this to push me over the edge!!!

Aside from slate the local producers, the 5 that were not guilty are as good as done anyway - maybe they should sue?

This is good to know, kind of like knowing you are going to die, one day!!!!

Thanks

The international brands which are imported into SA also contain melamine if I read it correctly.

I also sent an email through to Gary, I would personally like to know which local brands do not contain melamine.

The amounts were 6-9ug and the total daily limit I think is 200ug? So it is still quite a far bit off however perhaps there are other things we are consuming which contain melamine and some of us might be consuming a few servings of protein a day as well etc.

Absolutely true Psy, but remember for every bit of toxicins you take in, your liver will have to process and filter. So it's just one more dose of poison that puts strain on your organs. Liver strain is even worse if you eat a lot of processed food, work with dangerous chemicals/fumes, drink excessive alcohol etc.

So even though it's not nearly approaching the safe upper threshold, it still sucks...

And props for sending that email mate, hope you receive a reply.

Before you gents get upset I suggest you read the study. The levels of Melamine found in these supplements (avg 6mcg) are far below that considered toxic by the WHO. The highest level found was 12mcg/g so you will have to ingest 2.5kg whey per day to exceed the 3mg recommended safe level. I much doubt if the supplement companies would benefit enough to scam you from having 6mg more protein per kg of product. For me the only concern is that it is possible that the supplements could contain uric acid or cyanuric acid, which could crystallise in the kidneys. The study clearly states that further investigation is to be done on the possible addition of these substances before any conclusions can be drawn.

@ Pyroclasm,

I hear you, but my point is:

1. It's not on the label - So I can't make an informed choice
2. It's not contamination, as in oops, how did that happen - It's fraudulently pushing up the protein scores
3. Regardless of how it got there, the fact is, it's there! - Nice Quality control, shows how serious they are about their product.

Says a lot about an industry that wants my money & loyalty!!!
The industry should feel the burn in their pocket.

@Pyroclasm - That is actually the issue at hand here, since almost all other cases currently on record where food had added melamine, cyanuric acid was found as well. And it's fine and well that the dosage is low, but if you been drinking it for a bunch of years every day, that small dose might not be so small in the kidneys anymore. And the fact that they don't list it on the label and deliberately mislead the buyer also angers me. Not to mention special cases of melamine allergies, or cases where a person's kidneys is already heavily strained? Whey is advised today for medical purposes as well, especially cancer patients, to help with glutathione production. Should any of this cause complications in a person, what do you think the supplement company will say? They won't give shit. And that is my issue.

I am also going to send them an email. Hopefully pressure will mount from the public and they will release it.

Ok, so I would just like to state that I did receive a response from Gary.

Hello xxx
Thanks for your email communication and interest.
I do not comment on a specific Company Brand type, but instead my approach is to develop research, education and awareness and for the consumer/ potential consumer of such products to make more informed choices and to consult in particular Nutritionist/ Dietitians in context of ‘risk” .To be an informed consumer when deciding to purchase products, rather than accepting answers given ( sales/ marketing). I hope the necessary Health and safety enforcement authorities take up the matter and via their own testing and legislative framework are able to take ‘problem’ products off the shelves.
The original article (free) can be accessed via link below ( open source).
Nutrition Journal.2015, 14:69
DOI: 10.1186/s12937-015-0055-7
URL: www.nutritionj.com/content/14/1/69
The nutritional supplement sector is in predominantly self -regulatory environment and in my view is part of the ‘problem’. I do apply my mind to your specific question, but at this point the approach I have is the best way to ‘eat the elephant’ in the room.

It's all good however I do not see how a Nutritionist/ Dietitian will know which brands to use and which not to.
I hope it is alright that I posted the email response here - if not, mods please remove it.

SO I got a reply as well...

Hmmm.

Hello ZZZZ

Thanks for your email communication and interest.
I do not comment on a specific Company Brand type, but instead my approach is to develop research, education and awareness and for the consumer/potential consumer of such products to make more informed choices and to consult in particular Nutritionist/ Dietitians in context of ‘risk” To be an informed consumer when deciding to purchase products, rather than accepting answers given (sales/ marketing). I hope the necessary Health and safety enforcement authorities take up the matter and via their own testing and legislative framework are able to take ‘problem’ products off the shelves and declare this to the public. I am only the messenger (researcher) that intends to bring about the awareness and concern with the broader interest of the consumer’s health at ‘heart’.
The original article (free) can be accessed via link below (open source).
Nutrition Journal.2015, 14:69
DOI: 10.1186/s12937-015-0055-7
URL: www.nutritionj.com/content/14/1/69
The nutritional supplement sector is in predominantly self -regulatory environment and in my view this is part of the ‘problem’. I do apply my mind to your specific question, but at this point the approach I have is the best way to ‘eat the elephant’ in the room.
The ‘limit ‘ question you raise is important and in the article the issue of concern is the ‘acceptance’ of the TDI.

Best wishes

"Eat the elephant in the room"?

Did this guy just combine two sayings without recognising it? Hahaha.

Furk wrote: "Eat the elephant in the room"?

Did this guy just combine two sayings without recognising it? Hahaha.

He's a cunning linguist!!!

Say that slowly.

More like a fumsy cluck lol.

We are bitching and moaning about the study, but honestly I'm grateful it's done and now we know. And Gary has a point about the self regulation. The food and supplement industries have different rules.

Yeah, I'm OK with not killing the messenger.

But, how do we get the message to the manufacturers?
How do we choose clean products that contain what they say?

How do we vote with our wallet?

Hey guys. Quick update on this for those that haven't seen it and are interested: www.nutritech.co.za/nutritech-adds-melamine-screening/

Link to the lab results on that page.

Iron K.

Thanks for that, guess who just got my business!!!

Saw this a couple of days ago and thought it's interesting cause it made it to Forbes:

www.forbes.com/sites/alexmorrell/2015/03...ipping-off-athletes/

Not exactly related to the melamine story but still in the line of lack of quality / labeling control.

Just shows, where there's a buck to be made, somebody's gonna get shafted!!

Love capitalism, brings out the best in people.