Another Chemical Emerges in Pet Food Case -- NYTimes May 9, 2007

[DemBones DemBones]

SHANGHAI, May 8 — A second industrial chemical that American regulators have identified as a pet food contaminant may have been intentionally added to animal feed by producers seeking larger profits, according to interviews Tuesday with chemical industry officials.

Three chemical makers said Chinese animal feed producers often came to purchase cyanuric acid to blend into their feed because it was cheaper and helped increase protein content. In the United States, cyanuric acid is often used as a chemical stabilizer in swimming pools, though it is not thought to be highly toxic on its own.

<snip>

Two of the Chinese chemical makers say that cyanuric acid is used because it is even cheaper than melamine and high in nitrogen, enabling feed producers to artificially increase protein readings which are often measured by nitrogen levels of the feed. The chemical makers say they also produce a chemical which is a combination of melamine and cyanuric acid, and that feed producers have often sought to purchase scrap material from this product.

<snip>


Scientists had difficulty pinpointing the precise cause of the deaths, for neither melamine nor cyanuric acid are thought to be particularly toxic by themselves. But scientists studying the pet food deaths say the combination of the two chemicals, mixed together with perhaps some other related compounds, may have created a toxic punch that formed crystals in the kidneys of pets and led to kidney failure.


The article goes on to say that scientists at the University of Guelph in Canada had on May 1 announced that by mixing melamine and cyanuric acid they were anle to create crystals similar to the crystals "found in afflicted pets."

More detais at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/business/worldbusiness/09food.html

[havocmom]

1. Mix up a 'cocktail' for the corporate bastards who add this garbage to food

to make a few cents more.

[Triana]

2. They ought to force-feed it to them...

...that'd end this sick practice.

:mad:
:mad:

[DemBones DemBones]

3. What really bothers me is that this stuff has been fed to pigs, chickens,

and fish for human consumption in the US. The FDA says it shouldn't cause any problem. Statements like that always make me suspicious, and glad to be a vegetarian. When will we hear the equivalent of "Heckuva job, Brownie" about this mess?

[DemReadingDU]

4. I thought cyanuric acid was a byproduct of melamine

refer to this thread by RamboLiberal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2833835

[eppur_se_muova]

6. It is. They're very similar in structure, and melamine can react with water to make CA.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. self-delete

[DemBones DemBones]

9. If you read the entire article, it

quotes some Chinese as saying they sold cyanuric acid itself to be added to "food powder." As I recall, the article also goes into cyanuric acid also being a byproduct of melamine

What they're labeling as wheat gluten and rice protein is also just wheat flour with added melamine and/or cyanuric acid.

:grr:

[Shallah Kali]

5. FDA Warns Staff about Cancer Risk w/Melamine, Won't Let Pregnant Staff Near It!

http://www.itchmo.com/read/fda-melamine-surveilance-order-warns-against-major-health-risks_20070509

Despite repeated FDA statements saying that there is no risk to human health from contaminated pigs and chickens, the FDA surveillance order indicates otherwise. It states: Pregnant women should not perform this assignment. (Emphasis ours)

Melamine and additional related contaminants have been found in concentrations of up to 20% in analyzed samples. The MSDS for pure melamine is attached as Attachment B and includes warnings “to avoid breathing dust, avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing”. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage.

Clearly, the FDA is concerned with the safety of their own staff’s exposure to melamine-tainted foods. Despite this warning, the FDA told the press and us yesterday that animals that ate tainted foods were safe for human consumption.

snip

In fact, the Chinese factory that produced melamine-tainted wheat products was long associated with toxic symptoms. (Reg. required)

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Need to stop saying 'contaminant'; it is being used as an ADULTERANT.

Contaminant implies it may have been added inadvertently. It was added in an attempt to COUNTERFEIT protein content.

[DemBones DemBones]

10. You're right, though I don't know if the general public would know the

difference/ the definition of "adulterant." I can't think of a better word off the top of my head that the average college freshman would know. I doubt the average college freshman would know what "adulterant" or "adulterate" means, only "adultery." (Sex sells.)

Perhaps we should just say the food has been deliberately contaminated.

To increase profits by making the food seem to contain more protein than it does.

One word would definitely be better. . .