Posted on 04/21/2007 11:22:07 PM PDT by familyop
Imported ingredients used in recalled pet food may have been intentionally spiked with an industrial chemical to boost their apparent protein content, federal officials said Thursday.
That's one theory being pursued by the Food and Drug Administration as it investigates how the chemical, melamine, contaminated at least two ingredients used to make more than 100 brands of dog and cat foods.
In California, state agriculture officials placed a hog farm under quarantine after melamine was found in pig urine there. Additional testing was under way to determine whether the chemical was present in the meat produced by American Hog Farm in Ceres since April 3, the state Department of Food and Agriculture said.
So far, melamine's been found in both wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. Media reports from South Africa suggest a third pet food ingredient, corn gluten, used in that country also was contaminated with melamine. That tainted ingredient has not been found in the United States, the FDA said.
FDA investigators were awaiting visas that would allow them to visit the Chinese plants where the vegetable protein ingredients were produced.
"Melamine was found in all three of those - it would certainly lend credibility to the theory that it may be intentional. That will be one of the theories we will pursue when we get into the plants in China," Stephen Sundlof, the FDA's chief veterinarian, told reporters.
Chinese authorities have told the FDA that the wheat gluten was an industrial product not meant for pet food, Sundlof said. Still, melamine can skew test results to make a product appear more protein-rich than it really is, he added. That raises the possibility the contamination was deliberate.
"What we expect to do with our inspections in China will answer some of those questions," said Michael Rogers, director of the division of field investigations within the FDA's office of regulatory affairs.
Wilbur-Ellis Co., the U.S. importer of the tainted rice protein, said Thursday it was recalling all the ingredient it had distributed to five U.S. pet food manufacturers. The San Francisco company in turn urged its customers to recall any products that may be on store shelves.
So far, just two of those companies have done so: Natural Balance Pet Foods and Blue Buffalo Co.
Natural Balance, of Pacoima, Calif., announced a limited recall Monday of its Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.
Blue Buffalo, of Wilton, Conn., followed Thursday by recalling 5,044 bags of its Spa Select Kitten dry food. The company intercepted most of the kitten food before it reached distribution centers, company co-founder Billy Bishop said.
FDA officials would not release the names of the other two manufacturers that Wilbur-Ellis supplied, citing its ongoing investigation.
The FDA could not provide updated numbers of pet deaths or injuries due to the contaminated pet food. The agency has received more than 15,000 calls since the first recall was announced more than a month ago.
The FDA and Agriculture Department also were investigating whether some pet food made by one of the five companies supplied by Wilbur-Ellis was diverted for use as hog feed after it was found unsuitable for pet consumption.
"We understand it did make it into some hog feed and we are following up on that as well," Sundlof said.
Later Thursday, California officials said they believe the melamine at the quarantined hog farm came from rice protein concentrate imported from China by Diamond Pet Food's Lathrop facility, which produces products under the Natural Balance brand and sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed.
"Although all animals appear healthy, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution," State Veterinarian Richard Breitmeyer said in a statement. "It is unknown if the chemical will be detected in meat."
Officials were investigating American Hog Farm's sales records to determine who may be affected by the quarantine, said Steve Lyle, a spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The 1,500-animal farm operates as a "custom slaughterhouse," which means it generally does not supply meat to commercial outlets.
"Mostly it is not so-called mainstream pork. This is an operation that sells to folks who come in and want a whole pig," said Lyle said.
Officials urged those who purchased pigs from American Hog Farm since April 3 to not consume the product until further notice.
Dr. Mark Horton, state public health officer, said so far "evidence suggests a minimal health risk to persons who may have consumed pork" from the farm.
A man who answered the phone for American Hog Farm late Thursday declined to comment and referred calls to state officials. Phone calls to Diamond Pet Food's Lathrop facility and Meta, Mo., headquarters were not immediately returned.
The FDA should respond to that. Living in Asia, I can say people here will tell the most outrageous lies and make the most outrageous excuses with a straight face rather than admit they either made a mistake or did something wrong. This sure sounds like one of those cases.
A reasonable assumption, since Diamond claims they only used the protein in "waste" feed sold to the hog farm.
There was at least one media report that the FDA found at least one bag of the rice protein at the supplier that was stencilled with the word "Melamine." That might have been a clue. /sarc
Dogs have lived for thousands of years on table scraps.
We had better start recognizing that we can NEVER trust the chicoms.... NEVER!
LLS
If “W” reads your remarks I’m sure he will condemn them, in Spanish.
LLS
OK, so it looks like we will need to make them care
If all Chinese food products and ingredients are embargoed, I think that might get their attention. And if that becomes the reliable consequence of this sort of thing, that may result in some changes
This thread is being hijacked. Remain in your seats. We are returning to the airport.
They're gonna have a damned long wait.
L
The United States is the bread basket of the world. Why should we ever have to import any kind of food or food additives? Stop importing food from other nations. Its that easy.
Roger that!
If someone in China “in position” wishes your visit delayed.... it WILL be delayed beyond what any reasonable person would consider impossible to justify..
On the other hand, if someone in China wishes your visit facilitated — multiple entry visas can be secured promptly..
Have experienced both ends of that sharp stick...
The words “inscrutable” and “corrupt” were designed specifically to describe a large number of Chinese businessmen...
Semper Fi
Also, never trust the FDA. There's no excuse for not immediately implementing an immediate ban in the import of Chicom wheat.
Then there will be the inevitable delays for 'permission' to be granted to actually visit the factories.
Then 'permission' for samples to be taken, and on and on and on...
Why on Earth we trade with these barbarians is beyond me.
I go out of my way to avoid Chinese goods and will only buy them if there is absolutely no alternative.
L
Roger.
LLS
Could someone please point me to the original thread when this whole pet food scandal began? Thank you.
No friends of mine... I don’t even like the chicom exchange students that have flooded my hometown. This ALL needs to stop!
LLS
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