First Pet Food, Now Livestock Feed!

On Wednesday, May 2, 2007 Senator Durbin presented on the floor of the Senate, an amendment to food safety legislation that would require prompt reporting of any contamination, among many other new requirements. He said that it took three weeks for the contamination of Wheat Gluten by Melamine to be reported, and not until after there was a rash of cat and dog deaths that provoked veterinarians to start testing the food.

Senator Durbin said that Melamine was deliberately introduced into the wheat gluten to artificially increase it’s value. What they do, he said (I’m paraphrasing), is test the shipment for levels of Nitrogen. The higher the Nitrogen, the higher the price. Melamine tests positive for high levels of Nitrogen in small doses. The Chinese (or the company responsible for shipping the contaminated product) deliberately contaminated the product to make a profit.

In addition to pet food, livestock feed is contaminated as well. Pigs and Chicken were fed contaminated feed. The government says that the Melamine is so diluted that it would pose little or no risk to humans who consume chicken or pork.

Nobody mentioned anything about cattle, dairy or otherwise.

For a recap, visit my previos post from April 15

http://spfldnet.blogspot.com/2007/04/pet-food-wheat-gluten-mostly-imported.html

(UPDATE)

SHANGHAI: The general manager of one of the companies accused of selling
contaminated wheat gluten to U.S. pet-food suppliers has been detained by the
Chinese authorities, according to police officials here and a person who was
briefed on the investigation. (International Herald Tribune)

(Instant kidney stones)

Pet Food Poisoning Mystery May Be Solved : Finding Comes As Menu Foods
Expands Its Recall And Senate OKs Regulation Of Pet Food Labels (CBS News)