Detection of melamine in dairy products by mass spectrometry

Melamine is a nitrogen-rich chemical compound and is illegally added to dairy products by manufacturers to boost the nitrogen content misleading the protein content result of Kjeldahl method (i.e. the internationally recognized method for estimating the protein content in foods). According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), when melamine and cyanuric acid are absorbed into the bloodstream, then concentrated and interacted in the renal microtubules to form large amount of crystals (kidney stones) which block and damage the renal cells, causing kidneys damage. In 2008, there is a serious food safety incident related to melamine-tainted infant formula milk powder causing illnesses of about 300,000 Chinese infants and young children and six reported deaths. The melamine-tainted event leads to a need for sensitive and reliable techniques for detection and quantitation of melamine in dairy products. This article reviews the most commonly used mass spectrometric analytical technique that has been used for the analysis of melamine in dairy products.