Melamine is a type of plastic that is used as a coating for other plastics to make them harden and be more scratch-resistant. It's chemical composition has a high proportion of nitrogen.
Next step. Foods, like pet food and milk, are "quality"-tested for protein content by measuring the amount of nitrogen in it, as nitrogen is present in protein (but not in fats or cabohydrates, which are the 2 other forms of digestible food).
Step 3. Milk is watered down, which decreases the protein content. In order to trick the "quality"tests, melamine is then added to increase the nitrogen level. So then the so-called milk has milk, added water, and (deadly) plastic in it.
As the US has not had any reported types of melamine poisoning except from products imported from China, one must conclude the Chinese figured that one out all by themselves.
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