Three Hot Cocoa Products Recalled Over Toxic Chemical Melamine Concerns

December 23, 2008 12:49 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Three cocoa products are being recalled because they may contain the toxic industrial chemical melamine that poisoned and killed children in China when it was put into baby formula, and also sickened and killed people when it was put into toothpaste from China.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of three cocoa products packaged for Christmas. Dorsey Marketing Inc. (DMI) of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada has voluntarily recalled three of its G&J Gourmet Market Cocoa Products.

The cocoa is being sold nationwide at Big Lots and Shopko stores and might contain melamine, which can cause kidneys to shut down, as well as other problems. Melamine in pet food ingredients from China also sickened and killed many dogs in the U.S. in 2007 and 2008. The toxic chemical is added to milk, wheat and other products to make them appear to contain more protein so that producers and manufacturers can pass off substandard foods for more money.

Cocoa being recalled include G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer, G&J His and Hers Hot Cocoa Set and G&J Cocoa in French vanilla and double chocolate flavors. No illnesses have been reported yet, but several samples have tested positive for melamine. Consumers should return the tainted hot cocoa to the store where they bought it for a refund.

Melamine has been found in dozens of products exported globally from China prompting numerous international recalls. Those products include milk teas and coffees, yogurts, candies, cookies, biscuits, cheese, eggs, crackers, pet food and toothpaste.

Officials say the eggs became tainted because chickens were fed melamine-tainted feed. Pigs have also been fed melamine-tainted feed.

In addition, melamine is often used in fertilizer, including fertilizer imported into the U.S., but new studies have found it can remain in the land, contaminating it and potentially tainting food crops grown on it.

As far as the tainted milk and baby formula is concerned, Chinese government officials have admitted that nearly 300,000 babies became sick in that country with urinary and kidney problems, including kidney stones linked to melamine tainting and at least six babies died.