March 17, 2009

AgFeed Industries Inc, a commercial hog producer and premix animal feed company in China, said Thursday (Mar 12) that it has never used melamine.

The company said its products and raw materials have been declared melamine-free, after it requested the Chinese government to conduct the tests.

The addition of melamine, a nitrogen-rich substance used in making plastics and fertilizers, to milk supplies was linked to the deaths of at least six infants and 296,000 children to fall ill. Since then, melamine has also been found in other Chinese dairy products, including yogurt, candy and cream cookies.

AgFeed Industries, an US company, has its primary operations in China, where there is a sizable market for pork.