May 4, 2007
In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that pet food ingredients imported from China were contaminated with melamine -- an industrial chemical that is not approved for use in human or animal food in the United States. Recently, federal authorities determined melamine-contaminated pet food was used as a supplemental ingredient in hog and poultry feed in several states. The situation has spurred media reporting on the safety of food products from animals that were given the feed. According to a joint news release from FDA and the Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the likelihood of any human illness resulting from this situation is extremely low.
FDA's 1997 feed ban, enacted to protect the U.S. cattle herd against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), makes it illegal to feed certain ruminant and mammalian protein to cattle, including pet food containing those products.
"If this in fact was a pet food product and it had meat product in it, it could not go to cattle feed under the BSE regulations. We feel pretty confident that none of this has gone to cattle feed. It's just not a common practice in that industry." -- Dr. Daniel McChesney, DVM, Director of the
Office of Surveillance and Compliance, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA
Public attention to the current melamine issue serves as a reminder of how important it is to maintain the science-based feeding practices followed by cattle producers across the country.
Cattle producers should continue to follow the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program guidelines for feedstuffs:
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Have appropriate quality control points in place for incoming feedstuffs. Program(s) should be designed to eliminate contamination from molds, mycotoxins or chemicals of incoming feed ingredients. Supplier assurance of feed ingredient quality is recommended.
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Analyze suspect feedstuffs prior to use.
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Do not feed ruminant-derived protein sources per FDA regulations.
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Only feed by-product ingredients if it is supported with sound science.
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Regularly collect and store samples of either finished feed or feed ingredients for testing should a question about its safety or quality arise.
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Maintain records of any pesticide/herbicide use on pasture or crops that could potentially lead to violative residues in grazing cattle or feedlot cattle.
The government regularly inspects feed mills to ensure compliance with the 1997 ruminant feed ban.
The pet food industry works with feed mills to be sure companies are appropriately and clearly labeling pet food containing prohibited ruminant and mammalian products to avoid accidental inclusion in ruminant diets ( click here for more information on the Pet Food Institute's recommendations for its member companies).
For more information about the industry's BQA program and the recommended feeding practices, contact BQA Staff at (303) 694-0305 or rruppert@beef.org or agreen@beef.org .
Funded by The Beef Checkoff.