Contaminated swine safe for consumption
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced to allow pigs related to the melamine affair to be processed for human consumption.
Tests carried out by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirms that meat from pigs that ate rations supplemented with pet food scraps containing this melamine and related compounds, is safe for human consumption.
Kidneys
Testing of meat from pigs exposed to the feed in question confirms that melamine and melamine compounds does not accumulate in pork and is filtered out of the body by the action of the kidneys, according to the USDA.
The testing supports the statement that there is a very low risk of human illness from the consumption of meat from animals exposed to the feed in question.
Compensation
Approximately 56,000 pigs on farms in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Kansas, Utah and Illinois consumed the feed containing melamine.
USDA will provide compensation to producers for certain additional costs incurred as a result of voluntarily holding the animals.
Related websites:
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
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