WASHINGTON -- The feed mill that caused an uproar early this year when it acknowledged producing cattle feed that could spread mad-cow disease was found in violation of other federal feed rules.
Purina Mills Inc., St. Louis, received a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration, saying that two separate inspections found that the mill failed to follow FDA rules to ensure that drugs used in animal feed don't harm animals or humans.
The letter, dated March 23, said the mill's written response to the FDA's concerns about its findings was "unsatisfactory" in several areas. The agency said the company failed to provide certain documentation proving that it was in compliance with FDA rules, and that employees are properly trained. A poorly trained employee caused the January incident that resulted in 1,222 Texas cattle eating feed containing byproducts of other cows, in violation of agency rules to prevent the spread of mad-cow disease.
The FDA also said the mill used a drug in horse feed that could linger in horse meat meant for human consumption. Numerous attempts to reach Purina officials were unsuccessful.
The first of the two inspections cited in the letter occurred less than two weeks after news broke of the contaminated feed. The FDA had banned using parts of other cattle or ruminant animals in cattle feed because that is believed to pass along mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Ruminant byproducts are still allowed in feed for chickens, pigs and pet food.
Mills that make a variety of animal feeds often face a tough challenge in keeping production separate. Purina announced after the January incident that it would stop using ruminant byproducts altogether.
The recent FDA letter said problems with improper labeling for bagged medicated feeds date back to June 2000.
While Purina has been in the spotlight, it is far from the only feed mill to face problems complying with FDA's mad-cow feed rules. In Purina's case, the company found the mix-up and alerted the government. The FDA has sent a number of other feed mills warning letters for violations.
The number of warning letters has risen steadily this year as the FDA's feed-mill inspection program has ramped up to meet a goal of checking each of the nation's 10,000 feed mills, renderers, protein blenders and other facilities that make up the animal-feed production process. Many of those warning letters are for record-keeping violations.
|
If you have come to this page from an outside location click here to get back to mindfully.org |