Meat Recall Prompts Call for USDA Reform

These words are music to my ears! Maybe USDA is going to be reeled in after all. I know Rep. DeLauro from Connecticut is not for NAIS.

Meat Recall Prompts Call for USDA Reform

By JACOB ADELMAN – 13 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's twin mandates of promoting the nation's agriculture and monitoring it for safety are being questioned in the wake of a beef contamination scare that prompted the nation's largest-ever meat recall.

Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who chairs the House subcommittee responsible for the USDA's funding, called Tuesday for the USDA to be stripped of its responsibility for food safety.

"Food safety ought to be of a high enough priority in this nation that we have a single agency that deals with it and not an agency that is responsible for promoting a product, selling a product and then as an afterthought dealing with how our food supply is safe," DeLauro said. [emphasis mine]

She made her remarks during a conference call with reporters about the recall of some 143 million pounds of beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.

A phone message left for Westland president Steve Mendell was not immediately returned.

USDA officials announced the recall Sunday after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing crippled and sick animals at the slaughterhouse being shoved with forklifts.

Officials estimate that about 55 million pounds of the recalled beef went to USDA nutrition programs, the bulk of it for schools, Humane Society president Wayne Pacelle said.

No illnesses have been linked to the recalled beef, health officials said.

DeLauro planned a pair of hearings for early March to examine why federal inspectors did not note the mistreatment and take steps to ensure that "the school lunch program does not become the industry dumping ground for bad meat."

Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, said during the conference call that the U.S. Government Accountability Office had started investigating the safety of the National School Lunch Program, which is administered by the USDA.

Pacelle said he hoped the attention to downer cattle, those that cannot stand or walk unassisted, would prompt lawmakers to pass pending legislation in the House and Senate that would keep all downer cows out of the food supply.

Federal regulations discourage slaughterhouses from processing downer cows into meat because they may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease, but the USDA still permits them to be used with an inspector's approval, he said.

USDA spokesman Keith Williams did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged the USDA to complete a quick investigation of the apparent mistreatment and offered the support of the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

Schwarzenegger said he supported legislation by state Sen. Dean Florez that would allow California school districts to be reimbursed for beef bought from Westland.

California schools reported ordering 7.4 million pounds beef from the company since July 2007, according to Florez's office.

Deputy District Attorney Glenn Yabuno said prosecutors were also investigating whether Westland's business practices violated any state or local laws. He did not elaborate.

USDA officials were also investigating possible offenses.

Associated Press writer Denise Petski contributed to this report.

FDA/USDA sez melamine contaminated products at "levels calculated to be safe to consume."

Give me a break! No level of melamine can be considered anything but poisonous. The FDA and USDA are failing miserably and now, to cover their butts, are trying to tell people that the levels are safe to consume.

This is the link for their MELAMINE AND ANALOGUES SAFETY/RISK ASSESSMENT.

Within that risk assessment is this little nugget:

The assessment notes that melamine is not metabolized, and is rapidly excreted in the urine. Thus, it is not believed to accumulate in the body of animals.

I mean, I'm no scientist, but logically, if that statement were true how then did all those pets die? And, the numbers of pet deaths were severly under reported in the media.

How long can they keep lying?

I'm so glad I eat my own chickens and pork. You wouldn't catch me buying either in the grocery store.

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P07-82 May 7, 2007

Media Inquiries: FDA Press Office: 301-827-6242 USDA Press Office: 202-720-4623 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA/USDA Joint News Release: Scientists Conclude Very Low Risk to Humans
from Food Containing Melamine
USDA Releases Some Swine and Poultry for Processing

There is very low risk to human health from consuming meat from hogs and chickens known to have been fed animal feed supplemented with pet food scraps that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds, according to an assessment conducted by scientists from five federal agencies.

In the most extreme risk assessment scenario, when scientists assumed that all the solid food a person consumes in an entire day was contaminated with melamine at the levels observed in animals fed contaminated feed, the potential exposure was about 2,500 times lower than the dose considered safe. In other words, it was well below any level of public health concern.

The risk assessment is an important new science-based component of the continuing federal joint investigation into imported wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate from China that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds.

The risk assessment was conducted by scientists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This team is now compiling a scientific assessment of the risk to animal health associated with ingestion of animal feed containing melamine and its compounds.

FDA and USDA are in the process of identifying a group of experts to convene a scientific advisory board that would be charged with reviewing the risk assessment. This group would also be asked to contribute to future scientific analysis related to the risk of melamine and its compounds to humans and animals.

In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that pet food was contaminated by wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate that contained melamine and its compounds. Subsequently, scraps of contaminated pet food that contained only low levels of melamine were distributed to farms in a limited number of states and added to the feed consumed by swine and poultry. These scraps constituted only a small percentage of the farm animal rations. In addition, melamine is known to be excreted in animal urine. When exposure levels are much higher, as was the case with cats and dogs, the melamine and its compounds appear to cause the formation of crystals in the kidney systems, resulting in kidney damage. There was no indication of kidney damage in hogs. Both hogs and chickens known to have been fed contaminated feed appear to be healthy.

This dilution factor was an important piece of data considered in the multi-agency science-based human risk analysis and helps to support the conclusion that there is very low risk to human health from eating meat from animals that were fed the contaminated product. This conclusion supports the decision announced on April 28 not to recall meat from animals that were fed contaminated product.

Currently, swine and poultry on farms suspected of receiving contaminated feed are being held under state quarantine or voluntarily by the owners. In several cases, feed samples have tested negative for melamine and related compounds. These tests were conducted by federal laboratories or state laboratories using approved methods. It is assumed that because only small amounts of the contaminated feed were mixed with other rations, the melamine and related compounds were no longer detectable. USDA has concluded that, based on the human risk assessment and the inability to detect melamine in the feed samples, these animals no longer need to be quarantined or withheld from processing.

In other cases, feed samples have tested positive for melamine and related compounds; feed samples were not available; or feed samples have not yet been submitted for testing. These animals continue to be withheld from processing, but are not yet being culled, pending the results of the animal risk assessment. This assessment is expected to be completed within one week. At that time, USDA will determine whether these animals can be released for inspection and further processing.

USDA and FDA continue to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation. As additional information is confirmed, updates will be provided and decisions will be made using the best available science to protect the public's health.

To ensure no further contaminated products enter the U.S., the federal government will continue to monitor imported wheat and corn gluten as well as rice protein concentrate and isolates arriving from all countries destined for human and animal consumption. The FDA import alert for these products sourced from China remains in effect and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue laboratory testing of the products as they enter the U.S. The inspections are a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of products entering at U.S. ports of entry. There is no evidence to suggest products bound for the human food supply are contaminated.

For additional information about the pet food and contaminated feed investigation, go to www.fda.gov or www.usda.gov. The human safety/risk assessment will be available online upon completion of an executive summary.

Pork anyone? Care for a side of melamine?

Whoa! They fed pigs in this country with the recalled pet food?

California's State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton considers the health risks to be minimal. Hey, Doc! Have a plate and wash it down with cloned milk.

Who the f*ck is in charge?

Pork News
Calif. food safety officials follow tainted hog trail

By Tom Johnston on 4/23/2007 for Meatingplace.com

Four meat vendors received hogs tainted with melamine from a Ceres, Calif., farm, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said.

USDA said it seized all product from American Hog Farm that had been sent to a federally inspected facility, preventing it from entering the commercial food pipeline, CDFA said in media reports.

Of three state-inspected facilities, one received animals from American Hog Farm since April 3, the period in question, but none of them had been exposed to melamine-contaminated feed. Meanwhile, CDFA found and quarantined all exposed animals at a second facility before they could be sold.

The third vendor, Bar None of Half Moon Bay, Calif., received hogs that may have been exposed to contaminated feed. CDFA said Bar None bought 42 pigs this month from the farm that may have eaten the feed.

Meantime, CDFA is focusing efforts on contacting customers of American Hog Farm and Bar None to recommend that the pigs in question not be consumed, but, if already eaten, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton considers the health risks to be minimal.

On April 18, FDA notified CFDA that American Hog Farm received melamine-contaminated feed. (See Calif. hog farm quarantined after discovery of industrial chemical, Meatingplace.com, April 20, 2007.)

=================

Calif. hog farm quarantined after discovery of industrial chemical

By Tom Johnston on 4/20/2007 for Meatingplace.com

California authorities quarantined a Stanislaus County hog farm after an industrial chemical tied to a broad pet-food recall was discovered in pig urine.

The state's Department of Food and Agriculture said it was conducting more testing to determine if the chemical, melamine, entered the meat produced by American Hog Farm, the Associated Press reported.

"Although all animals appear healthy, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution," State Veterinarian Dr. Richard Breitmeyer said. "It is unknown if the chemical will be detected in meat."

Authorities theorize that the melamine derived from rice protein concentrate imported from China by a Lathrop, Calif.-based Diamond Pet Foods facility, which makes products under the Natural Balance brand. Diamond also sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed.

Pacoima, Calif.-based Natural Balance on Monday issued a limited recall of its venison and brown rice canned and bagged dog foods, venison and brown rice dog treats and venison and green pea dry cat food.

Melamine, used in several industrial processes such as making plastics, has tainted more than 100 brands of dog and cat food and been blamed for causing health problems in dozens of dogs and cats.

Investigators were also scanning the farm's sales records to determine which customers may be affected by the quarantine, CDFA spokesman Steve Lyle told AP, noting that it generally doesn't supply meat to commercial outlets.

Officials urged anyone who bought pigs from American Hog Farm since April 3 refrain from eating the product until further notice. Thus far, "evidence suggests a minimal health risk to persons who may have consumed pork" from the farm, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton said.

So, let me see if I got this straight. Melamine laced rice, corn and wheat gluten killed pets who ate the food that was perhaps contaminated on purpose yet evidence suggests a minimal health risk to anyone who might have consumed pork who ate the same food. The must think we are stupid.

Soylent green, anyone?

"USDA has so far shown no desire whatsoever to trace back the contaminant to the source of the contamination."

And yet they somehow insist on persisting (definition: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition) with the phony idea of traceability in livestock.

(Hi there, BrandX. Who are you?)

Food Safety
Recalls come at critical time for FSIS

By John Gregerson on 4/23/2007 for Meatingplace.com

Timing, as the saying goes, is everything.

No sooner did members of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service endure a scathing session with the House Agriculture Subcommittee on the issue of food-borne illness last week than they were confronted with a pair of major recalls on Friday, both involving outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7.

In Sonoma County, Calif., at least three children were sickened after consuming hamburgers from Calistoga Little League baseball snack shacks on April 3. On Friday, Merced, Calif.-based distributor Richwood Meat Co. voluntarily recalled more than 100,000 ponds of frozen ground beef patties associated with the outbreak. The frozen patties initially were distributed to discount grocers and institutional foodservice providers in California, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Across the country, South Claysburg, Pa.-based processor HFX Inc. voluntarily recalled 259,230 pounds of beef product after discovering a positive test for E. coli in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health linked steaks manufactured by HFX to a late-March outbreak involving Hoss's Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a Pennsylvania-based meat chain. Authorities speculate the illnesses resulted from undercooked steak product. Four of the five consumers who became ill required hospitalization.

Both recalls arrive on the heels of a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control indicating that instances of foodborne illness in the United States have either risen or remained the same over the past five years. Although FSIS data shows unchanging or decreasing figures among plant samples, the CDC figures and a report from the Government Accountability Office indicating that one-third of U.S. meat plants weren't inspected last year prompted Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D.-Conn.] to blast FSIS during the April 18 House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing.

After losing her temper, DeLauro said, "I am going to do everything I can to delay [FSIS's risk-based plant inspection initiative] until we're standing on solid facts." The initiative, which already has been delayed until summer, essentially seeks to deploy inspectors where they are needed most, meaning some plants would receive more visits than others.

Traceability troubles

Friday's recalls also prompted allegations that FSIS never attempted to identify the processor involved in an earlier recall involving Richwood Meat. On Feb. 24, 2004, the distributor recalled 90,000 pounds of ground beef for E. coli. John Munsell, president of Montana Quality Foods, told Meatingplace.com that when he contacted the company about the matter on Feb. 26, he was told that "USDA has so far shown no desire whatsoever to trace back the contaminant to the source of the contamination."

Richmond VP Steve Wood refused to discuss either Friday's recall or the 2004 incident with Meatingplace.com.

He did, however, take time to tell other members of the media that the blame for Friday's recall rests with his company's suppliers. "It's supposed to be clean, but they are picking out [only] little samples here and there," he said.

Wood indicated he didn't really know who "they" are. Munsell said he hoped FSIS puts forth the effort to find out.