04/30/07 Pet Food Update

On Thursday, the FDA & the USDA held a press tele-conference to update the media on the pet food contamination and possible contamination of pork through feed. The contamination has been traced to a chemical called melamine used in the manufacture of plastics according to Captain David Elder, director, Office of Enforcement with FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs ELDER: we determined that a shipment of rice protein imported from China was contaminated with melamine and melamine-related compounds. Product was off-loaded during the week of April 2, 2007, by Wilbur-Ellis, an importer and distributor of agricultural products in the Pacific Northwest. Rice protein was used in the production of pet food and a byproduct of pet food was used to produce animal feed. As was mentioned, the contaminants in question include melamine and melamine-related compounds including cyanuric acid, a combination of which is a potential source of concern in relation to human and animal health. Elder noted that the melamine alone in the amounts tested posed no threat to people but that there was no scientific data regarding the effects of a combination of compounds. As for the pigs that have eaten contaminated foods, Dr. Ken Peterson, assistant administrator for Field Operations with the Food Safety and Inspection Service said these animals should be slaughtered. PETERSON: Because the animal feed in question was adulterated, USDA cannot rule out the possibility that food produced from animals fed this product could also be adulterated. Therefore, should these animals be presented for slaughter, USDA cannot place the mark of inspection on any food that's produced from these animals, these swine. USDA is offering to compensate producers who euthanize swine that were fed the adulterated feed. USDA is authorized to use Section 32 funds to restore these farmers' purchasing power. Approximately 6000 hogs are being held in quarantine and may be slaughtered. Peterson says that as far as they know, none of the pork has made it to consumers. PETERSON: But as far as federal slaughter and any of these animals coming to federal slaughter plants, again we're not aware of products that have gone into commerce, but we're working with FDA to find any of these farms where the animals consumed the feed, and did any of those swine actually go to slaughter. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.