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)

Pet Food Wheat Gluten Mostly Imported.

C-SPAN Thursday April 12, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Pet Food Regulations:

A panelist representing the Food and Drug Administration said that two-thirds of America's Wheat Gluten is imported from China and Northern Europe. Wheat Gluten is a product of wheat that had its starch removed. It’s normally used for thickening and binding food.

A contaminated shipment containing Melamine was added to pet food, sickening and sometimes killing dogs and cats. Melamine is an industrial product used as a binding agent and so also is wheat gluten. Oh, the irony.

The contaminated shipment of wheat gluten came from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology, of China, according to the Food and Drug Administration, but they also say their investigation continues.

Senator Durbin asked one panelist, Stephen Sundlof of the F.D.A., if he was aware that contamination was found in wheat gluten used to produce products for human consumption. Sundlof replied that he was aware that there were products manufactured but not sold. The FDA website states that there is no record of human food contamination.

While the wheat gluten under scrutiny by the government is a processed product, there are other foods that contain wheat gluten that are normally not harmful to most people. I stopped eating wheat products myself because I have difficulty digesting it (celiac or coeliac), and I feel better than ever!

The Vegetarian Society has a chart that will help us avoid wheat gluten at http://www.vegsoc.org/info/gluten.html.

A search at the website http://www.foodingredientsonline.com returned 58 types of processed products that contain wheat gluten.

http://www.foodnavigator.com was also searched and revealed 88 articles about wheat gluten. The first article noted that wheat gluten could be used as an organic polymer, which is ironic considering that Melamine is also used in the production of plastic.

According to Wikipedia, “Melamine is used combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic, and of melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, fabrics, glues and flame retardants. Melamine is one of major components in Pigment Yellow 150 that is a colorant in inks and plastics.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine

Is pet ownership cruel?

I don't plan to own any pets, primarily because pet ownership makes no sense, and secondly, because I would be worried sick about a pet while I was away at work. It's difficult enough to take care of a relative's pet while the owner is away for an extended trip. The animal would be constantly on my mind. It would negatively impact my productivity at work.

Where is the cruelty? Containing wild animals, or setting free animals that don't know how to fend for themselves? How about breeding the animals in the first place? I occasionally watch Animal Planet, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are always rescuing abused and neglected pets and stray feral pets.

I think we can ill afford to own pets, and especially those of us who can barely manage our own lives, let alone take care of our own children. Luckily, I have no children, but time and time again I hear stories of families who don't realize the expenses they incur for having a pet, and they can barely keep their kids in shoes.

Every month I imagine the Humane Society, ASPCA, and municipal animal control units around the country have no alternative but to euthanize many abandoned animals.

The solution is to break the financial incentives of breeding and selling pets from "Puppy Mills" by adopting a pet from an animal shelter and having your pet spayed or neutered.

As much as 25% of all dogs entering a shelter are pure breeds. Pure bred dogs often come with genetic defects that can cost the owner tens of thousands of dollars or more, over the life of the pet.

Ultimately, animals should be able to fend for themselves if they don't serve a useful purpose. 61% of dogs, 75% of cats entering shelters are euthanized.

See Surprising PET STATISTICS