Donations

With your financial support you will enable implementation of our projects. Learn more about how it works. Thank you very much!

Newsletter

Our newsletter keeps you informed about our projects. You can sign up here.

Search


You are here: vsf » Projects » STOP-Melamine

STOP-Melamine

CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRAL QUALITY LABORATORIES IN EAST AFRICA

Due to food shortages at home, imported milk powder is a staple foodstuff.
However, consumption of Chinese melamine-contaminated milk powder endangers the health of thousands of children. With project "STOP melamine," VSF identified abuses and is now committed to establishing a secure, investigative warning system.

Although the Chinese melamine scandal is no longer covered by the media, its consequences continue. In order to cover-up illegal dilution of milk with water, milk powder and other dairy products from Chinese dairies and baby food manufacturers were mixed in 2008 with the synthetic compound melamine. In China, this resulted in the deaths of six infants and in the formation of kidney stones in about 294,000 children. A worldwide import ban on Chinese dairy products was adopted. According to official reports, China destroyed all affected batches.

Due to shortages at home, Africa is dependent on imported milk powder. Furthermore, HIV-positive mothers cannot breast-feed their babies because of the enormous risk of infection and are therefore dependent on these imports.

First examination of African milk powder by VSF Austria
The explosive question, whether melamine-tainted milk powder had come to Africa, was first tackled by VSF Austria, and it has been the only international organization to do so. The results of our investigation of locally sampled African milk powder are very alarming: 6% of the examined baby foods were positively for melamine, and this included products from international corporations! Consequently, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health was able to confiscate more than 40 tons of Chinese milk powder.

For the time being, the lack of both financial resources and technical expertise is preventing further investigation of melamine in milk powder and baby food.

Our tasks:

  • to establish a central quality laboratory to test for melamine and other hazardous residues and contaminants,
  • to establish suitable detection methods on-site,
  • to enroll African scientists and veterinarians to conduct these lifesaving tasks.
Maasai-Art-Logo

NACHRICHTEN

07.10.24:

CARE 4 DOGS - Medical care for stray dogs. | © Veterinarinas without Borders Austria

VACCINATE FOR AFRICA starts today!

Vets all over Austria are vaccinating pets this week and donating half of the vaccination fee to...

05.10.24:

Vaccination for Africa 2024 helps stray dogs in need. | © Veterinarians without Borders

Animal vaccination campaign 2024: Every contribution counts

Take part and do good: Get your pet vaccinated and help stray dogs in need! Half of the vaccination...

04.10.24:

Not only people, but also thousands of pets have lost their homes due to the war in Ukraine. | © Veterinarians without Borders

Street dogs in Ukraine: surviving the crisis

In Ukraine, not only people are suffering, but also thousands of dogs that have lost their homes....

Weitere News

VIDEOCLIPS

John Laffa sends Christmas greetings from Tanzania

Our Tanzanian employee John Laffa wishes all supporters and friends of Veterinarians without...

Steam cooking in the traditional way

Sweet potatoes are very popular in Africa. In Tanzania, many small traders sell steamed sweet...

Maasai student Lucas Moreto successfully finishes diploma course!

We congratulate our Maasai student Lucas Moreto! As reported, Lucas is studying law at the TUDARCO...

Weitere Clips
Member of the network VSF International
VSF International