Why would trace quantities of cyanuric acid be present in infant formula?
Minute quantities (parts per billion) of residual sanitizer used to clean formula-processing equipment, utensils and packaging may sometimes be detected with modern analytical technology that is capable of measuring ultra trace quantities of chemical substances. Sanitizing formula-processing equipment is a key step in making infant formula, as it protects the integrity of the formula. Concentrations at these extremely low levels, if they occur at all, are not a food safety concern and have no effect on the final product, similar to finding water spots on dishes. Since melamine and cyanuric acid have a variety of industrial uses, low levels can be found within the environment and in foods.
