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FDA: U.S. company was adding melamine
By Christie Keith
May 30, 2007
During the media conference I just liveblogged, it was announced that Tembec, an Ohio-based company, has been adding melamine and related compounds to an ingredient used to make fish, shrimp, cattle, sheep, and goat feed. These products have been sold internationally as well as domestically.
FDA’s Mike Herndon said they’d be sending out a press release shortly. We just got it; it doesn’t seem to be on their website yet, and I’ll replace this with a link when it is. But for the moment Here it is:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting livestock and fish/shrimp feed manufacturers about a voluntary recall of products used in feed production because several have been found to contain melamine and related compounds.
The feed ingredients were made by Tembec BTLSR Inc. of Toledo, Ohio and Uniscope, Inc. of Johnstown, Colo.
Tembec, a contract manufacturer for Uniscope, makes AquaBond and Aqua-Tec II, which it distributes for Uniscope. Uniscope makes Xtra-Bond using ingredients supplied by Tembec. All of the products are binding agents that are used to make pelleted feed for cattle, sheep, and goats, or fish and shrimp.
The companies have confirmed that Tempec added melamine as part of the formulation of the products to improve the binding properties of pelleted feed. Melamine is not approved as an additive for animal or fish/shrimp feed.
The companies have stopped adding melamine to the feed products.
So, I’m curious.
On May 22, the FDA suspended its until-then twice-weekly media conferences on the melamine contamination investigation, saying there was nothing new to report and they’d let us know when there was.
The night before they suspended the media conferences because there was nothing new to report, UC Davis had found melamine in a previously unrecalled pet food. FDA did subsequently issue a recall notice for this food, although they had not at the time they canceled the media conferences.
On the very day they canceled the media conferences because there was nothing new to report, a news story broke that the FDA’s own labs found melamine in catfish submitted by the state of Arkansas for testing, which was meant for human consumption. That catfish had been imported from China.
This was the first time melamine was detected in food meant for human consumption, but there still has been almost zero coverage of this in the mainstream media. Would there have been if the media conferences hadn’t been canceled?
Now we find out that four days before canceling the ongoing press conferences because there was nothing new to report, on May 18, FDA learned that a US company had been adding melamine to its binding agent, which is used to make commercial fish and shrimp feed as well as livestock feed for cattle, goats, and sheep — not only in the US, but we’ve been exporting this stuff.
Did you miss seeing my head explode?
UPDATE: Up from the comments (thanks, barry!):
From Uniscope’s product detail page:
http://www.uniscope-inc.com/product_detail.htm
Aqua-Tec – Water Proofing Binder
Is a pellet binder for pelleted and extruded fish and shrimp feeds. Dramatically improves pellet stability in shrimp feed and fish feed in water. Actual production tests demonstrate that pellets made with Aqua-Tec lasted from one to eight times longer in water than pellets made without. Use 1 to 7.5 kg per tonne. Aqua-Tec is a urea-formaldehyde based binder and is used worldwide in aquatic feeds. In aquatic feeds produced in the U.S., Aqua-Tec is used in feeds destined for export.
I note that the product is “used in feeds destined for export.”
Now, Xtra-Bond:
Xtra-Bond – All Purpose Urea Formaldehyde Binder
Is a low-inclusion urea formaldehyde binder, which also provides weatherproofing. Xtra-Bond is used in wild game feeds, base/premix pellets, calf creep feeds, range cubes, blocks and urea feeds where improved weatherproofing is desired. Use 2 to 4 lb per ton (1 to 2 kg per tonne); if currently using a urea formaldehyde binder, replace at equal economic rates.
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“The estimated melamine levels in feed made with these binding agents are similar to the levels discussed in the interim safety/risk assessment of melamineand related compounds made available by FDA earlier this month.”
Oh isn’t THAT just convenient, now?
Must be another one of those astounding “coincidences” (such as the timing of the MenuFoods CFO’s stock sellof)?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 30, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Catfish is in the Risk Assessment report.
Coincidence?
Comment by straybaby — May 30, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
The link is up: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01643.html
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 30, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Christie, maybe the good folks at Tembec will ship you some binder to put your exploded head back together!
Comment by Therese — May 30, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Actually, Tembec in Toledo, OH is NOT an American company but a unit/division of the CANADIAN company Tembec, Inc. See the article below:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/.....0720070530
Comment by BengalMom — May 30, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
And no I didn’t miss seeing you’re head explode; it was a split second before my did.
Tembec stock price thingy; wonder if they had any insider trading activity lately??
http://finance.google.com/fina.....lient=news
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 30, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
When the FDA gives companies caught with bad feed time to contact their customers (vs make it public) then they can work to scrub their records or take other steps to limit the damage.
What had to get in place first was the test that “proved” it was safe.
Do I think that this was coordinated? I don’t know. Companies acting in their economic interests first vs. something that might have an effect on the food safety of the public. Does that ever happen? (And remember companies have now been told that it’s diluted, and tiny and “safe” and 20 million chickens are already in your bellies)
I mention this because when companies work together to make a policy that will protect them that is not called a conspiracy. They are simply cooperating.
As we look to see who knew what when, and who influenced whom, be advised that one thing that the defensive folks love to do is to ridicule any one who suggests that cooperating might in fact approach the technical definition of a criminal conspiracy.
So word choice is important here folks.
We would simply like to know who worked with whom and when they worked with them. Who was aware of what and in what time frame?
All good standard questions that have nothing to do with “off the charts” bloggers, but have everything to do with understanding the issues.
I want us all to be smart about how we talk about this look into this as we move forward.
Remember the steps that Iams will take to protect their brand. (see Itchmo or my story)
Comment by spocko — May 30, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
From Uniscope’s product detail page:
http://www.uniscope-inc.com/product_detail.htm
Aqua-Tec - Water Proofing Binder
I note that the product is “used in feeds destined for export”.
Now, Xtra-Bond:
Xtra-Bond - All Purpose Urea Formaldehyde Binder
Weatherproofing? I guess plastic does provide some weatherproofing, eh?
Comment by Barry — May 30, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I saw that also Barry
I’m still in my ‘wow’ phase . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 30, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Are you saying that a US company has been adding melamine in feed for animals. They should be checked out to find out why they did it.
Comment by Jill — May 30, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
I am a vegetarian, but my animals cannot be.
I guess this is the cyanuric acid and melamine generation. I hope the human babies eating this stuff can grow up and be somewhat healthy adults.
Comment by Evelyn — May 30, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Well, melamine has certainly become the ingredient du jour. Makes one wonder what else is in our food and in our pet food and how much damage will be done before detection.
Comment by Carol — May 30, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
I thought urea (a non-protein nitrogen) was ok to add to ruminant feed. Is the FDA saying melamine itself isn’t approved but urea (which works similarly from what I understand) is ok? I’m confused as to why this would be such a problem in ruminant feed.
Comment by slt — May 30, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Where did these Tembec folks buy their melamine? Was the melamine also associated with the timber or any paper productions? I assume it was low-grade (not for human consumption?)
The US and China have used NPN in cattle feeds for many years.
In 2000, the standards for paying dairy farmers for milk here in the UNITED STATES changed due to paying more for less nutrition because of NPNs.
We knew and we used it & why. Without fines, nobody cares and for pity sake a $13,000.00 fine is nothing to some of these companies.
Comment by Ann H — May 30, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
This country is going down the tubes as we speak!!! What next????
Comment by ann — May 30, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
He did say that it isn’t in fish food. Maybe we should just eat some tropical fish flakes.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
lol!~ thanks Tammy, i needed that!
so does this mean fish style petfood is more dangerous, especially if it has fishmeal also? that would put at least 3 contaminated ingredients in it . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 30, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
from the Xtra Bond description:
” . . if currently using a urea formaldehyde binder, replace at equal economic rates.”
wtf does that mean? economic?!
Comment by straybaby — May 30, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
I can’t even wrap my mind around this news.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Did the FDA say, there’s always escapism if you don’t like the food?
Comment by Steve — May 30, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
I saw on the tembec website that they use a melamine-urea binder for plywood, fiberglass, cafeteria trays etc. What do you want to bet melamine is cheaper than formaldehyde?
Comment by Robert — May 30, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
oh my, just got here to this link.
Okay, it isn’t like I am so naive that I believe in a tooth fairy or a just government. Or that the check is really in the mail, or that esp. timely old saw that the government really is here to help. I was born cynical and developed it into a fine art at one point in my life.
But go**d*** it all anyway, the level of duplicity is slowly sinking in and leaving me speechless. Honest.
Comment by TC — May 30, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Is the FDA trying to commit agency suicide? Do they think this is any more OKAY for them to withhold info or play games, than it is for those poison tainting folks with which we trade nowdays?
I don’t believe much in Congress, but have some desire to see them crawl right up these agency-bots noses and destroy this ineffectual money wasting group of govt. employees clearly just waiting for that awesome fed pension to kick in.
Comment by TC — May 30, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
I thought that melamine was illegal in the US.
Comment by Jill — May 30, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
I wonder how many FDA bigwigs will get hefty bonuses this year.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Even if it is Jill Tempec stopped using it, so it’s okay now. They are cooperating with the FDA and they said they were sorry. Nothing to see here, move along.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Comment by spocko — May 30, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
“When the FDA gives companies caught with bad feed time to contact their customers (vs make it public) then they can work to scrub their records or take other steps to limit the damage.”
Bells rang when I heard the FDA say that they learned about it on Friday and went in on Monday…
Comment by Maureen — May 30, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Gotta give ‘em time to level the buildings.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
According to this May 23 article in the Denver Post, the FDA is still planning to shut down the Denver testing lab and other FDA labs around the country:
Food-safety lab in line for closure
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_5962783
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) tried to insert language into the FDA bill earlier this month to protect the labs in their states, but they had to delete this language in order to get the bill passed.
They plan to re-introduce it in another bill.
The article points out that the scientists will be offered jobs in other labs if this lab closes, but apparently most of them don’t want to move. The FDA is going to lose some quality people, it sounds like.
Comment by Barry — May 30, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Tammy ,I was just wondering what you meant by Nothing to see here move along?
Comment by Jill — May 30, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Jill, she was saying it ironically - as in, there certainly IS *something to see here* - but the FDA would far prefer that we simply “move along”.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 30, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
ok.
Comment by Jill — May 30, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Thanks Pat :)
I was being sarcastic Jill. I’m irritated at the FDA’s complacency in this matter.
Comment by Tammy — May 30, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
I don’t blame you . So am I . I have a cat and I care about what I feed her and my mother also has a dog that she cares about and she also thinks that we should not be getting anything from China. I think The FDA should be doing their job the right way and tell people the truth.
Comment by Jill — May 30, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Head exploded so not thinking well….. but I’m wondering - hope Bernie is still around:
NPN - if I remember correctly is encapsulated with melamine. I seem to remember reading that ranchers in AZ were warned to be careful of its use during extreme drought when water was unavailable. Many cattle died.
Melamine encapsulates a lot of things including medicine.
Didn’t they originally say; how water soluble it was and excreted quickly in urine.
So who tested that?? Or was that a different melamine than the one now that is waterproof…. and if so.. is that why it was so deadly to the pets?????
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 30, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Of all the news stories about the FDA news conference today, here’s the first one that I’ve found, at least, that gets the importance of what we found out today: it’s Christie writing a diary on dailykos.
“Breaking: Another country found adding melamine to exports”
Guess who “another country” is — the U.S.
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/30/183450/974
Comment by Maureen — May 30, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
My one hope is that now that the FDA had a press conference, this will get more media attention.
Comment by Christie Keith — May 30, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
The United States of Corporate America, a minor provence of China, ain’t it great?
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 30, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Another thing quietly happening is that arsenic is being added to chicken feed.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/govern.....5gov2.html
Comment by ango — May 30, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
I think many heads are exploding…I cannot believe this stupidity………and ignorant money generating actions or lack of might be a better way to put it.
Concern for pet food that has fish meal as well as cattle that ate.
What happened to the fish meal originally talked of that had a lot destined for pet companies…….and what will happen with this!??? NO ONE EVER ANSWERED THIS. And it is up for grabs with pet companies securing food.
Meanwhile, so much for goat cheese along with all the other even vegetarian sources for contamination (tahini, strawberries, lots of recalls going on) and I remain concerned for all the chickens ect., feed, fish, etc. going into pet food.
How can a country not recall all the melamine contaminated food for pets and humans.
I fear this is remaining an on-going saga that is not near its end.
Comment by maddy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Maybe, if word gets around to other countries, our exports will be rejected because there is poison in the feed.
Corporations might pay attention because they won’t be able to sell to countries that know we have poisoned food (except China, of course).
Comment by Evelyn — May 30, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Tembec says, “We’re talking about a low concentration of an element that is in turn a low component of any feed product.”
And that’s just the melamine…
Comment by shibadiva — May 31, 2007 @ 4:46 am
U.S of Corporate America, a minor province of China. Oh my but that is rich. Thanks!
Oh and yes, my head exploded, too.
Someone mentioned here the melamine medicine connection. Really? those ‘tiny time pills’ encapsulated in MELAMINE? Can this be substantiated? Is FDA doing anything with this?
As for the ‘Nothing to see here, move along’ remark for the non-Star Wars generation this is a cut from one of the Star Wars movies.
Comment by lost for words — May 31, 2007 @ 5:02 am
Comment by lost for words — May 31, 2007 @ 5:02 am
“As for the ‘Nothing to see here, move along’ remark for the non-Star Wars generation this is a cut from one of the Star Wars movies.”
And they - in turn - borrowed the phrase from common police useage when doing crowd control at the scene of a crime or an accident.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 6:05 am
Forgive the shouting in putting up these quotes from Tembec, found in today’s Toledo paper. They obviously knew they were using melamine, a banned ingredient but that was OK because it was for “intended purposes.” The Toledo Blade and the International Herald Tribune also stress that these U.S. companies exported this binder ingredient; the L.A. Times doesn’t. (Shocking — wonder if this incendiary information was blocked by an editor; certainly Abigail Goldman has done a great job in covering this story.)
The Toledo Blade says:
“The vast majority of feed that Uniscope made with Tembec’s binder was used on shrimp farms outside the United States, according to John Valley, Tembec’s executive vice president of business development and corporate affairs.
Mr. Valley added that the melamine levels in the shrimp feed, which are not considered to pose a threat to humans who eat the shrimp or other livestock, were minuscule.
“That binder in turn is a small component of the overall fish pellets. It’s a minor part of a minor part, if you will, so the concentrations are very low,” he said. “WE BELIEVED THAT FOR THE INTENDED USES, WE WERE MAKING A COMPLIANT PRODUCT…”
To date in 2007, Tembec produced 350 TONS of the binder in Toledo, Mr. Valley said. IN RESPONSE TO THE PET-FOOD CRISIS, HE SAID THE COMPANY CHANGED ITS FORMULA LAST MONTH TO DROP MELAMINE FROM THE INGREDIENTS…”
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pb...../705310409
Comment by Maureen — May 31, 2007 @ 6:28 am
from International Herald Tribune: “U.S. government fights to keep meatpackers from testing all slaughtered cattle for mad cow”
Hooray… for Creekstone Farms Premium Beef!!
A few paragraphs…
The Bush administration said Tuesday it will fight to keep meatpackers from testing all their animals for mad cow disease.
The Agriculture Department tests fewer than 1 percent of slaughtered cows for the disease, which can be fatal to humans who eat tainted beef. A beef producer in the western state of Kansas, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, wants to test all of its cows.
Larger meat companies feared that move because, if Creekstone should test its meat and advertised it as safe, they might have to perform the expensive tests on their larger herds as well.
The Agriculture Department regulates the test and argued that widespread testing could lead to a false positive that would harm the meat industry.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap.....ad-Cow.php
Comment by petlover — May 31, 2007 @ 6:47 am
My Fort Collins Coloradoan quoted the FDA as saying that instead of melamine Uniscope confirmed that it will replace the binding resin with a urea formaldehyde resin-type ingredient. Link should be at http://www.businessnews@coloradoan.com Article on Melamine found in Johnstown company’s product.
Comment by Evelyn — May 31, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Additional comment by Johnston company—added without their knowledge or consent and that to their knowledge no one has gotten ill.
I say more money for the health care system to cure the ills caused by melamine and formaldehyde and also cyanuric acid. People and pets now have “no known illness”, but we might one day know what harm was caused. Ye-gads!
Comment by Evelyn — May 31, 2007 @ 7:18 am
I put a link on one of these threads last night to Christie’s diary on dailykos.com about the FDA’s briefing. There are presently more than 250 responses. One links to this story that details the agenda of Andrew von Eschenbach, the head of the FDA:
http://www.newstarget.com/021874.html
This link takes you to Christie’s diary and responses (you’ll want to refresh as there will no doubt be more by the time you get to this link):
http://dailykos.com/story/2007/5/30/183450/974
Comment by Maureen — May 31, 2007 @ 7:24 am
The Johnstown company I saw in the newspaper is Uniscope, Inc. and the resin is used to hold the pellet together for the feed.
Comment by Evelyn — May 31, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Did anyone notice the comment I made about corporations putting ARSENIC in poultry feed (basically to boost corporate profits)? Approximatelly 70% of human grade poultry meat tests positive for arsenic. The US government is aware of this and is apparently “OK” with it. Last I heard, arsenic was a well-known carcinogen. If not relevant to pet food safety and quality concerns discussed here, I apologize.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/govern.....5gov2.html
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 8:24 am
“Arsenic and Old Lace” movie I am reminded of.
Dates me, but a great movie.
Never thought the chickens would be feed that, also.
Ango, I did notice your arsenic comment earlier and told my daughter and husband what chicken contains.
Cannot believe the complacent population, but I feel the most effective way is to vote with our buying power—at least with this administration who favors big corporations almost totally and lets us scramble for health care if any of us gets cancer.
Comment by Evelyn — May 31, 2007 @ 8:42 am
It amazes me that arsenic is much too toxic to continue to be used in wood decking, but it is just fine for use in the food chain. Keep in mind poultry manure is used in fertilizer, so contamination is not limited to poultry. What really disturbs me is that when trying to eat local foods, many of these “organic” farms are right next to farms with large poultry houses. The arsenic is contaminating the water supply and drifting by air into the “organic” farms.
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 9:15 am
I know at some point in the past the arsenic in chicken feed came up and was briefly mentioned here at PC (someone had a link, and I just ran around for a few days yapping about the FDA morons who thought there were acceptable levels of arsenic, merely because someone wanted to use the easy way out re pest control and feed). Also wondered about the total accumulation of all things that the FDA and USDA have approved as “okay in small quantities” in feed going to slaughter animals. And what is the cumulative effect of all those items?
Esp. where we’ve learned via the pet food scandal, that the combo of melamine and cynauric acid can be a kidney killer. So what about the interactions between all these “approved” additives?
P.S. I have lived now in two areas where arsenic is in the well water, and it is natural to the area, ie not from farming practices. In my state, people always check for arsenic levels when a new well is dug, whether farming is nearby or not. It is not to be treated casually. Well, I guess unless you are raising chickens and lazy.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 9:31 am
It’s all so disgusting - what’s the matter with our world - thinking we can do this with feed - and it affects our health. Can’t take much more of this - depressing beyond words.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:32 am
TC - The World Health Organization - W.H.O. has many studies on additives in our food and all is on their web site. On the search feature - type in additives.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Also, where I live now, there is naturally occuring arsenic on some of the rock formations on my land, and all over the BLM vast acreage next door. If you are rockhounding, you have to be aware of what the arsenic accretions look like, and avoid handling them with bare hands, and then say settling down to eat your trail mix with those arsenic covered fingers - that much can get you pretty hurt pretty fast.
However, with it in our food and water, we can be ingesting it daily, which at certain levels can kill us.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 9:37 am
http://search.who.int/search?i.....rch=Search
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Linda - thanks for the link. I want to know these things, even though like you, it is going to depress the heck out of me.
Particularly because I don’t yet see a clear solution to the problem on a nation wide scale, and only somewhat believe that I as an individual can minimize my personal risk. I think everyone should be able to expect to walk into a store and not be put at such risk (not 100% guarantee, but way more than how it actually is now). Course, I think we ought to be taking better care of people with regards to health insurance too, but that never goes anywhere either. Between bad food and people without health care or insurance, we sure look expendable, huh?
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 9:41 am
TC:
Not just look expendable - but I feel expendable these days - maybe its my age catching up to me - but life just seems so frail and is getting frailer with each news report.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:45 am
thx too The OTHER Pat for the link.
The slaughter dude is coming next week kill one of our cows. Too hot to be hanging it at home, and no time to do it ourselves, so off to the custom meat locker he goes. DH will watch the whole process, including the cutting and wrapping, just to freshen up his mind on it (he had a buddy do some venison with him a couple of years ago, and it wasn’t a big deal, just time consuming).
In the fall, we will do the 2nd one ourselves, so we know for certain that the same one we kill is the same one that ends up in the freezer (this custom meat place seems very on the up and up - but when I was a kid, my dad would carefully skin a deer and do a very clean shot - then get back meat with much fur and buckshot all over it. Wasn’t the same one he delivered, so I am a cynic a bit).
It will be cold enough to safely hang the cow (and deer) to age. My biggest deal will be refresh my taste buds’ memories of strictly grass fed animals. Similarly, the sage & bitterbrush fed desert deer taste way different than the ones that live in the Coast range vegetation.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 9:57 am
If you live in Minnesota, they will be burning poultry manure as “renewable energy” starting in the next month or so. I have no idea if there has been any thought or consideration about arsenic in developing this technology. As most is secreted in waste by the poultry, I would think the manure is loaded with it. If so, it will now be in the air. I have inquired to the regional office of the EPA about how this is being addressed. I guess there is some chance the manure is from non-arsenic using producers, but with the majority of producers still using it, I’m not thinking that is likely.
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Oops! Meant to post a link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18847427/
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 10:10 am
linda - it is likely both the bad news and our ages. We have enough energy to do a few big projects, one at a time. In the old days, we just whirled like dervishes and juggled a lot of things at once.
Like the slaughter. This cow needs to go now before he gets any older. And our hay guy says 1st cutting will be ready around the 10th, so we can 1) haul and stack hay (there are NO reliable kids you can hire to do this, as they are all working in the construction boom here instead) or 2) slaughter, skin, hang, cut, wrap the cow. Plus find time to cut/split the firewood for summer drying, and the garden area needs to be tilled this week and so much more. But only one thing at a time, with rest in between tasks, or our bodies will give out:)
Frail is a very good word. I will add vulnerable too.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 10:13 am
ango - that has to smell really bad, too? I knew a guy who decided to use chicken manure on all of his fields, hundreds of acres in a patchwork up and down his road. The smell was unforgettable and long lasting. Peer/neighbor pressure was intense and it didn’t happen again.
Course, that was back before we thought beyond just smell to what the heck was that chicken eating? Some days, it feels that there is no hope for straightening out all the things we’ve done to our food chain. Really and truly.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 10:16 am
TC - yes - vulernable too. Oh, so true.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 10:22 am
That must have smelled dreadful, TC. I’m hoping that with the attention the pet food fiasco is getting, the population in general will be paying more attention to things they would have never considered before. I am tired too, but the timing may be right to address food safety in general. People that don’t have pets may be willing to join with us if they know for sure food safety is not just a concern for pets and pet parents. We need many more concerned citizens. We have a better chance of getting that support if we can find ways such as the arsenic issue to pull in others.
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 10:37 am
ango - makes cow and horse poo smell nice, and only thing worse would be decomposing animal, swear.
I am not overly optimistic about people and awareness, because convenience foods and products are not just valued these days, they are worshipped blindly. Some people don’t think they can live without them; others don’t want to live without them, and will close their ears. After all, some of the health risks from eating this crap will take years to develop - they may never make that cause and effect connection, even on their death beds.
Having said that, I hope some progress can be made re food safety. Re the timing on food safety awareness, I agree that this is definitely a window of opportunity to try to get the message out, and to gain some ground regulation and government policy-wise.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 11:57 am
I was furious at the “fast footwork” on the question of WHEN pet food will be safe and read the transcript while holding my breath lest the dread “16” lie resurface, the reporters seemed a bit..weirded out about how weird the FDA acts.
I swear they are still hiding more bad news, this just reeks of it, and I did notice a few news reports mentioning the Friday drop and run pattern, so maybe the mainstream media will catch on soon.
I ran unto something real interesting, the guy even has a theme song for the screwing you get from big corporations, much like our “Tainted Love” and “Bad to the Bone”, he says Elvis and “We Can’t Go On Together with Suspicious Minds” is the tune for this situation and I like that.
http://www.cluetrain.com/apocalypso.html
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 31, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Article today (5/31) in the Greeley, CO Tribune:
Livestock safe as recall investigation continues
http://www.greeleytrib.com/art.....S/70531010
It puts emphasis on the fact that animal feeds made with Uniscope’s Xtra-Bond are not included in the recall, only products using Aqua-Tec and Aqua-Tec II. (True! It’s in the recall notice.)
This, despite the fact that the Xtra-Bond contained melamine.
This didn’t quite sink in until I read the Greeley Trib’s article, but doesn’t this effectively mean that the FDA and the Colorado Dept of Agriculture have determined that there is a “safe” level of melamine for animal feed?
And, if so, based on what? Dilution, dilution, dilution, I guess.
An acceptable level of plastic in our food supply. What’s next? A recommended daily allowance?
Comment by Barry — May 31, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 31, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
that is a good song choice! and one i can stand having in my head! ;)
i must say, all that’s been going down lately has made me feel like i wasn’t so over the top securing safe food sources for 6-12mos. and i even included myself in it, not just the pets! now i have the fuel i need to keep on fighting the b.s. that’s going on.
Comment by straybaby — May 31, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Good post over on Itchmo!
http://www.itchmo.com/read/con.....s_20070531
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
We live right near a chicken farm and a hog farm. do you think the water and air are alright? It stinks so bad sometimes from the hogs, or when they clean the chicken houses.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Maker of feed additive warned
Toledo company not properly registered, used illegal product
http://www.dispatch.com/dispat.....038;cat=21
Friday, June 1, 2007 3:37 AM
By Denise Trowbridge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
“A Toledo company that makes an animal-feed ingredient containing the same compound that led to a mass recall of pet food violated Ohio law, according to a state agriculture official.
“Tembec Inc., which makes melamine, a binding agent used in some livestock and fish feed, did not register as a feed manufacturer in Ohio and used an unapproved ingredient in its products, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
“We had no idea they were making these products,” said Adam Boerger, a grain and feed analyst for the department. “They were in violation of the law.”
“Any company that manufactures, distributes or sells animal feed in Ohio is required by law to register with the Department of Agriculture, regulators said.
“Tembec says it’s not a feed manufacturer. “We produce a binder that is used in the production of feed, but we do not produce feed,” Tembec spokesman John Valley said.
“But regulators say the company still is required to register under Ohio law even if it only makes a single ingredient, because they are involved in the feed-manufacturing process.”
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Same article:
“Valley told USA Today that Tembec thought it was making a “compliant product” because it was made for export, not for the U.S. market.
“But any feed that is made in Ohio, whether for export or domestic use, must meet U.S. safety standards and contain only ingredients approved for use in the U.S.
“In order to manufacture here, you must meet all of our regulations” no matter where the feed is going, Boerger said.”
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 8:34 am
Yesterday I read somewhere that the US economy is *baaad*, lowest in what four or five years. (Sorry, I glanced over it without really diving into it.)
Now my question is: might that have something to do with the (pet) food scandal?
Reasoning:
a) people buy less pet food than before - less time in shop - less other shopping
b) people take care of their animals - less free time - less spending
c) people are scared to buy anything edible, read labels and inquire because we learned the hard way that our food is most likely poisonous and bad for us
d) a lot of the bloggers are female, and 3rd millennium or not, buying decisions are still mostly done by women. That are also the ones who right now are either mourning an animal or caring for them.
e) in my case, a *lot* of my disposable income has been moved to vets, and since I know that a lot more is likely to come, I’m tighter than I usually are. Am I the only one?
Considering all those reasons above, I would like to conclude that, yes, the US economy is down: exorbitant gas prices (is EXXON having another record-breaking quarter?), the pet food scandal and the overlaying food scandal with government agancies that give us the spin-around and corporate America that feeds us poison, laced with TV ads how wholesome their (beeeeeeep) is…
Who else is convinced that our government is looking behind the wrong doors and initiating the wrong measures in order to jumpstart the economy?
just wondering….
Comment by MaKo — June 1, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Being a criminal in this country has no consequences if you are a friend of the administration.
Comment by Sharon — June 1, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t this against the law? Shouldn’t there be a prosection of some kind or atleast some heafty fines? From what I’ve heard, this ingredient is not supposed to be used as any type of food source in our country but companies are using it anyways.
Comment by Cindy — June 1, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Another Friday afternoon “dump” …
Throw away Chinese toothpaste, FDA warns
Products may contain poisonous chemical used in antifreeze
Updated: 7 minutes ago [June 1 2007 6:13 PM]
WASHINGTON - The government warned consumers on Friday to avoid using toothpaste made in China because it may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze.
Out of caution, the Food and Drug Administration said, people should throw away toothpaste with labeling that says it was made in China. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain diethylene glycol.
The agency is not aware of any poisoning from toothpaste in the United States, but it did find the antifreeze ingredient in a shipment at the U.S. border and at two retail stores: a Dollar Plus store in Miami and a Todo A Peso store in Puerto Rico.
Officials said they are primarily concerned about toothpaste sold at bargain retail outlets. The ingredient in question, called DEG, is used as a lower-cost sweetener and thickening agent. The highest concentration of the chemical found in toothpaste so far was between 3 percent and 4 percent of the product’s overall weight.
“It does not belong in toothpaste even in small concentrations,” said the FDA’s Deborah M. Autor.
Increased scrutiny
The FDA increased its scrutiny of toothpaste made in China because of reports of contamination in several countries, including Panama.
The agency is particularly concerned about chronic exposure to DEG in children and in people with kidney or liver disease.
Agency officials said they had no estimate of how many tubes of tainted toothpaste might have made it into the U.S.
“Our concern today is potentially about all toothpaste that comes in from China,” Autor said. “Our estimate is that China makes up about $3.3 million of the $2 billion U.S. toothpaste market.”
The agency also issued an import alert Friday for all dental products containing DEG. The alert means toothpaste from China will be stopped at the border, she said.
Companies that make brands previously found with DEG will have to prove the toothpaste is free of the chemical before it’s allowed into the country. Meanwhile, all other brands of Chinese-made toothpaste will be stopped for testing, something the agency has been doing since May 23.
The import alert posted by the government says DEG has been improperly used in a variety of sedatives, syrups and cough medicines worldwide. Most recently, a cough syrup containing DEG resulted in more than 40 deaths in Panama last September.
The alert says the agency found DEG in three products manufactured by Goldcredit International Trading in China. The products are Cooldent Fluoride, Cooldent Spearmint and Cooldent ICE. Analysis of the products revealed they contained between 3 percent and 4 percent DEG.
The agency also found the chemical in one product manufactured by Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemical Co. in China. Analysis of that product, Shir Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste, found it contained about 1 percent DEG.
China’s food safety problems have in recent months become a matter of international concern, a situation reflected in trade talks between Chinese and U.S. officials in Washington last week.
Most notably, on March 15, FDA learned that certain pet foods were sickening and killing cats and dogs. FDA found contaminants in vegetable proteins imported into the United States from China and used as ingredients in pet food.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18985512/
Comment by Sandy — June 1, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
p.s. The Newshour [PBS] is running a segment tonight about food “safety” in this country and how it is falling apart …
Comment by Sandy — June 1, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Just saw the toothpaste thing too. Here is the FDA website release - they list a few more names than the article above, but pretty much the same info, fwiw:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01646.html
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Also, fwiw. I recall about a year or so ago, that there were many products at our local Dollar store that were bought in bulk from other countries and sold here for rock bottoms prices. Ones that people suspected contained all of the illegal ingredients that we don’t allow to be used in the US. Some people were warning against buying these products back then, and toothpaste was a named offender.
Of course, we hadn’t this pet food tragedy, or the subsequent human food scandals that seem to be erupting weekly now, and no one was especially willing to give up cheap toothpaste because of some “dumb” internet rumour. I mean, if it was that bad, the government would not allow the sale of such things, even at bargain stores. Right?
We were naive or what?
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
The problem with Chinese poison and Chinese garbage (apparently according to CCN the Chinese used garbage as a stuffing for some children’s toys) is that the FDA will only catch a small percentage of it. The FDA under the current administration is run by political appointees whose only concern is keeping commerce flowing for the profits of multinational corporations.
The FDA leadership has shown it doesn’t give a damn about American consumers. As long as the American public continues to vote for politicians who are pawns of big business and apostles of globalization at any cost, the situation will only grow worse. The American voter has only themselves to blame if they keep putting people in Congress and in the White House who don’t represent their interests.
Scream at the FDA and USDA all you want - their bosses work in the White House. We are getting exactly what we voted for!
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 1, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
It’s salt and baking soda for me.
Comment by Terry — June 1, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
All voting is merely picking the lesser of two evils. The people that I wish would run for office are people who have great character and couldn’t survive a run for office. Who have deep intelligience, but can’t do the ugly things needed to run a country with diverse cultural needs and opinions.
So we get to pick from the standard one size fits all career politicians, who are pretty much the same. Big business is power, and politicians will cater to that power. Globalization is like environmentalism and global warming - a total power trip. Politicians on every side of the fence WILL cater to that power as well. Since it has never been otherwise, I don’t see how it will ever be otherwise in the future, either.
There has never been an administration in US history where this has not been so, except maybe in the early years of our republic. When power was not so big and in the hands of so few in such an organized way. But that is a growing pains things, and this is the typical outcome once a nation gets more established.
The question is how do we wrestle some of the control back to our hands, despite the pitiful crop of candidates we typically have from which to chose. And how to not get caught up in the sweet promises that are made with no intention of following through. I do not have an answer. I don’t think a “special” candidate or party will come along, and bam, things will be okay. There is NO administration that I have ever been 100% approving or proud of for the duration of their tenure. Not a one. Lesser of two evils means that I do know some of them could have been far worse. And I am realistic enough about human nature and governance to work with what we have at hand.
How do we get what we want? It isn’t some some magical vote choice that for once and for all make our world safe and as each of us wants it to be. Always some compromise, but compromise can simply kill us nowdays.
The real problem is that we don’t get what we vote for. I am still looking for a cure for that, but being my age, I am not particularly optimistic anymore.
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 5:46 pm