Newsletter

Contaminated products enter food chain

After the Peter Pan salmonella scare and the Natural Selection Foods E. coli-laced spinach, consumers had to contend with a new contaminant in their pet food in early 2007. Melamine, a chemical found in tainted cat and dog food, was said to have caused the deaths of over 4,000 animals in the United States as of May 2007. Although a tragedy in itself, the fear factor was upped a few notches when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the contaminants had also been fed to farm animals raised for human consumption.

On April 22, 2007, the FDA announced that the same contaminated rice protein used for the deadly pet food was also used as pig feed. In a press release shortly after this date, the agency stated that the feed reached sites in California, Kansas, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah. Other sites were expected to be found as well, pending an investigation.

Then, on April 30, 2007, the FDA announced that approximately 30 chicken farms in Indiana had used the same contaminated feed in early February. These chickens had already been “processed” according to the agency – in other words, the chickens that ate the melamine-laced feed had already entered our food supply.

The agency seems to be confused itself, and has sent very mixed messages to the public through its news releases. On the one hand, the FDA states that there will be no recall on any chicken that entered the food chain because the “FDA and [U.S. Department of Agriculture – USDA] believe the likelihood of illness after eating chicken fed the contaminated product is very low.” It also said that there was no evidence that eating the poisoned chicken will harm humans.

On the other hand, the FDA noted that the USDA cannot “knowingly approve products derived from these poultry for human consumption” because the chickens had been fed “adulterated products.” And, as has been stated by other sources, nobody is really sure why melamine-tainted pet food products have killed so many animals. If scientists can’t figure that out, how can we assume that eating those animals is safe? But the FDA reassures us that: “If any evidence surfaces to indicate there is harm to humans, the appropriate action will be taken.” For those who suffer the effects of the “evidence,” it will already be too late.

Although agencies like the FDA and the USDA are charged with protecting our food supply, it is the companies themselves that are responsible for the safety of the products they produce. If you have become ill due to contaminated products including salmonella-tainted peanut butter, E. coli-tainted spinach, or any other food borne illness, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates. You symptoms could result in medical bills, lost wages, and extreme discomfort. We may be able to help you get compensation to cover you for these losses. Contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury lawyer today for a free case review by filling out the form on this page with the details of your food poisoning, or by calling us directly.

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