October 16, 2008
Melamine found in feed additives in South Korea
The government said that it has found two cases of melamine-contaminated feed additives that were used to increase lactic acid content.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the samples collected from a chicken feed manufacturer in Gyeonggi Province showed melamine levels of 14 parts per million (ppm) and 37 ppm.
The manufacturer said it imported 52 tonnes of yeast powder from China this year and used it as an additive, according to a ministry official.
He added that the producer sold the feed to 12 poultry farms and is holding 18.8 tons in storage which are to be destroyed, while a recall order has been issued to the poultry farms that have bought them.
The ministry said that all farms that have been supplied with the feed have been barred from selling both meat and eggs, pending detailed tests.
The country has detected several contaminated animal feeds and 10 food products that had traces of the nitrogen-based chemical.
