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Thousands of hogs in U.S. who may have eaten tainted product destroyed
BEIJING - In the United States, it is feared as a killer of cats and dogs and a potential threat to humans.
Yet in China, the mildly toxic chemical melamine is commonly used in animal feed and is even praised by some customers, according to the managers of a feed company and one of the chemical’s producers.
“Using the proper quantity of melamine will not harm the animals,” said Wang Jianhui, manager of the Kaiyuan Protein Feed company in the northern city of Shijiazhuang. “Our products are very safe, for sure,” Wang added.
Feeding animals food containing melamine risks introducing the chemical into the food chain through their meat or eggs. Scientists say there is no evidence that people could get sick, but say they know too little about how the chemical reacts with other substances to be sure it is safe.
Chinese wheat gluten containing melamine was blamed in a wave of pet deaths in March due to kidney failure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated, and nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the ingredient were ordered recalled. Adding the chemical to food is illegal under American law, and China’s government last week said it was banning its use in food products.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18400433/
BEIJING - In the United States, it is feared as a killer of cats and dogs and a potential threat to humans.
Yet in China, the mildly toxic chemical melamine is commonly used in animal feed and is even praised by some customers, according to the managers of a feed company and one of the chemical’s producers.
“Using the proper quantity of melamine will not harm the animals,” said Wang Jianhui, manager of the Kaiyuan Protein Feed company in the northern city of Shijiazhuang. “Our products are very safe, for sure,” Wang added.
Feeding animals food containing melamine risks introducing the chemical into the food chain through their meat or eggs. Scientists say there is no evidence that people could get sick, but say they know too little about how the chemical reacts with other substances to be sure it is safe.
Chinese wheat gluten containing melamine was blamed in a wave of pet deaths in March due to kidney failure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated, and nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the ingredient were ordered recalled. Adding the chemical to food is illegal under American law, and China’s government last week said it was banning its use in food products.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18400433/
