Melamine Adulteration of Food:Detection by Point-of-Care Testing Tool

Abstract

Melamine has emerged as one of the major food adulterants world over. Its high nitrogen content makes it a cheaper protein alternative, resulting in illegal adulteration of food and feed. Despite past incidences showing a higher risk to humans, there is no single method available to detect melamine in human samples at a lower cost-setting. Since melamine is excreted in the urine in an unchanged form, it can be detected directly by the development of a test at a patient's bedside via exploiting the intrinsic fluorescence ability of melamine cyanuric acid complex. Such a simple test will encourage huge public awareness and participation.