Posted on 05/01/2007 9:52:09 AM PDT by Milwaukee_Guy
PROBLEM: Poisonous or Deleterious Substance Unfit For Food Unsafe Food Additive
COUNTRY: China (CN)
REASON FOR ALERT: In recent weeks, there has been an outbreak of cat and dog deaths and illness associated with pet food manufactured with vegetable proteins contaminated with melamine and melamine related compounds. In response to this outbreak, FDA has been conducting an aggressive and intensive investigation. Pet food manufacturers and others have recalled dog and cat food and other suspect products and ingredients. This has been one of the largest pet food recalls in history, a recall that continues to expand.
Thus far, 18 firms have recalled product, 17 Class I and 1 class II, covering over 5,300 product lines. As of April 26, 2007, FDA had received over 17,000 consumer complaints relating to this outbreak, and those complaints included reports of approximately 1950 deaths of cats and 2200 deaths of dogs. The Agency is working with federal, state, and local governments, academia, and industry to assess the extent of the outbreak, better understand how melamine and melamine related compounds contributed to the pet deaths and illnesses, and to determine the underlying cause of the contamination.
(Excerpt) Read more at fda.gov ...
I've read that the rise in autism is *entirely* attributable to a shift in diagnosis methodology and definitions, rather than an *actual* rise in the number of cases. Don't know if it's true, but I've seen the claim made multiple times.
It’s important to keep in mind that the melamine itself is not the cause of the illnesses and deaths. The melamine has been there for years. What’s new is a second contaminant, believed to be cyanuric acid, that reacts with melamine to form the toxic substance. There seems to be a huge obsession now with tracking down the sources of melamine, and screening products for melamine content, when it’s the other substance that set off the rash of illnesses and deaths. But I haven’t heard a peep about where the cyanuric acid came from, and I have to think it could react with other things too (like the melamine in many food containers, and other completely different substances). Cyanuric acid is used for pool cleaning, and I suspect the answer is that it recently started to be used in equipment cleaning at food processing plants in Asia, probably in an honest attempt to improve sanitation. I’m puzzled about the lack of focus on this.
Here's the list:
Short list.
This rate of increase pretty much ties in with the way autism reporting has changed. At least that’s the official line.
Kosher food suppliers may be better off than many.
The company I work for does a lot of upfits for dialysis centers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a specific healthcare segment grow as fast in the past five years as renal care has.
ouch!
Probably correct...
I guess we go organic and locally grown as much as possible?!
Pioneer Brand Flour says they do not import any product for their flour, and you can order online...
https://www.chguenther.com/store/
1-800-531-7912
I actually called Pioneer Flour on the phone to ask them if they imported ANY of their flour or supplies; they told me flat out that they DO NOT IMPORT ANY OF THEIR SUPPLIES. They said their wheat comes mostly from Kansas, and all of their other products are U.S. made as well...
I am asking their sales rep to send me a spec sheet so I can have it in writing, for confirmation.
Whether or not this applies to their mixes I do not know - please call and ask them to ask where they get their wheat and corn - you’ll get a real person in Texas!!
Good suggestion.
Thanks for that information!
That is the scary part and signifies the importance of the FDA’s latest action.
Pet are the “canary in the coal mine”. What happens to them, will soon happen to us.
The US food supply is contaminated and we are still stumbling along attempting to determine the true scope and cause.
What if it had been babies dying?
Probably no change. Blocking free trade wouldn’t be good for the economy. Also we don’t want to upset China. We must proceed cautiously. It’s probably our fault anyway. /sarc off
May daughter born in 1995 would have been diagnosed in her first 2 years with the pediatricians she went to. They kept quite a detailed chart on her cognitive development. They looked for autism.
Eat nothing from China.
Right on. I noticed at Von’s market yesterday that apple juice under the store brand had a stamp on it (tiny in black) which was difficult to even see. “Product of China”.
I looked because it was 1/3 the cost of other apple juice brands. Needless to say I didn’t buy it and chose the more expensive U.S. brand. If the price hadn’t been SO low I might have purchased without looking. You have to check the print on everything these days, EVERYTHING!!!!
That is why I asked if there is a “list” of any sort earlier. This will get fairly complicated!
I just emailed Orowheat for info on flour products used in their bread.
"Jest cain't hep but gro, iff'n y'all put soma this on in it!"
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