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Melamine Contaminated Livestock Feed -- Update

May 2, 2007 — 

The FDA and USDA held a press conference on Tuesday May 1st to discuss the ongoing investigation into the melamine contaminated pet food and hog feed reported in last week's e-Letter (Pigs in Six States Possibly Exposed to Melamine-tainted Feed). Below are the key points from the press conference providing the latest official information available.

  • Currently involves approximately 6000 hogs and 6 states. NC, SC, UT, CA, KS and NY are known to have received adulterated feed. Authorities are also in contact with a feed mill in MO that might have received adulterated feed as well. OH, which was included in the initial list, has been removed from concern following investigation into the timing of ingredient shipments.
  • 30 flocks of broilers and 8 poultry breeder farms in Indiana also received contaminated pet food which was fed during the month of February. The broilers have for the most part been processed and marketed already. The breeders are on voluntary hold and will not be allowed to enter the human food chain. This equates to approximately 100,000 breeders waiting to be depopulated and 2.5 to 3 million broilers estimated to have been processed and potentially entered the human food chain.
  • The hogs in CA, NY & NC are being held under state quarantines. In KS, OK, SC & UT, producers have agreed to hold the animals until further notice.
  • Estimates are that about 350 hogs that may have consumed contaminated feed have been slaughtered for human consumption.
  • Animals fed contaminated feed will be euthanized on the farm and pork from hogs receiving this feed will be destroyed.
    • Although euthanasia is not mandatory, the animals will not be allowed to go to market.
    • USDA has now agreed to compensate producers, using Section 32 funds, for animals euthanized as a result of consuming melamine-contaminated feed.
    • Section 32 allows the Sec. of Agriculture to "restore the purchasing power" of the farmers affected. It's unclear exactly what this means in terms of real dollars to the producers.
  • Melamine levels found in the urine of hogs fed the suspect feed reportedly ranged from 300 - 400 parts per billion to upwards of 50 - 60 parts per million.
  • There has been some discussion of the finding of additional "melamine-related" compounds, specifically cyanuric acid, found in the rice protein concentrate and the wheat gluten. According to Dr. Hugh Baker, Veterinary Program Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, cyanuric acid is a product of the bacterial breakdown of melamine. However, the fact that cyanuric acid was found in the ingredients would indicate that it was either placed there accidentally or on purpose or that bacterial contamination of the rice protein and wheat gluten resulted in a breakdown of the melamine in the ingredients.
  • According to David Elder, director, Office of Enforcement with FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, "scientific research indicates that melamine alone at detected levels is not a human health concern. However, no scientific data exists to ascertain the effects of combining melamine and melamine-related compounds. Therefore, the determination has not yet been made regarding the safety of the product."
  • There have been questions regarding the timeline of pet food recalls and contaminated hog feeds. Menu Foods has recalled pet foods manufactured as early as Nov. 8, 2006. It is assumed that salvaged pet food has been going into livestock feeds during this entire period. The FDA did not directly answer this question during the recent news conference, but indicated that they were attempting to trace any pet food and salvaged pet food that may have been manufactured with melamine or melamine-related chemicals.

    The entire transcripts can be viewed on the USDA Newsroom website.