Groceries in U.S. stores face tests for melamine

SEATTLE – Processed meat and poultry products – including some of kids’ favorite foods – will be pulled from grocery shelves nationwide for limited, random tests for melamine, an industrial chemical that spawned a scandal after more than 50,000 children in China became sick from drinking tainted milk produced there.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday ordered spot checks on breaded chicken nuggets, hot dogs, packaged meatballs, pizza snacks and other processed foods that contain milk-based ingredients.

The testing notice, which also covers baby food containing “significant” amounts of meat or poultry, does not specify a brand or distinguish between domestic or imported products.

The USDA will randomly test 45 samples a week from U.S. stores. Testing is expected to begin in about two weeks.

The foods were singled out because they contain milk-based ingredients such as cheese, dried milk, casein and whey.

The USDA said testing will not be limited to products containing milk ingredients from China because the agency has no way of knowing the origin of the ingredients used in the manufacturing process.