May 8, 2007

US to slaughter hogs on tainted feed

Aside from culling 20 million chickens over melamine contamination, the US Department of Agriculture will also permit slaughter of hogs from farms where the chemical and related compounds are undetected in scientific tests.

The USDA in a statement said the slaughter will be used for human food consumption while on some cases animals will remain under quarantine or voluntary hold by their owners.

The agriculture department said final conclusion of animal risk assessment may be completed within a week.