May 16, 2007

Hogs that ate tainted feed cleared for consumption by USDA 

The US Department of Agriculture has cleared for processing thousands of hogs who have consumed melamine-contaminated feed after a series of tests conducted showed it posed no risk in human health.

Scientists concluded that a 132-pound human would have to consume more than 800 pounds of pork or other food containing melamine-the chemical found in salvaged pet food and is believed to be the cause of death and illnesses among cats and dogs in the US-and its compounds before it becomes dangerous reiterating that the risk to humans is very low.

Some 56,000 hogs that ate melamine-contained feed were held on farms in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Kansas, Utah and Illinois. Tests show meat including melamine and its compounds don't accumulate in pork and are filtered through urine and the animals appear healthy, the USDA said.

The department said it would compensate producers for costs incurred as a result of voluntarily holding the animals. Almost 100 million swine are processed annually in the United States.

On the other hand, nearly 80,000 chickens are still being held at farms in Indiana as the USDA develops a validated test for detecting melamine in poultry meat which is expected to be ready later this week.