The Plot thickens
Mar. 25th, 2007 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lurkittyFor those interested in the pet food story, the toxin found by researchers at Cornell University labs in the tainted food was aminopterin. This substance is only approved for use in the US as an anti-cancer drug. CBS News reports they Menu has now admitted to purchasing the gluten from China, after initially refusing to say where they obtained the product.
More animal deaths are expected, but at least veterinarians now know what toxin they are dealing with. It seems large doses of folic acid will help counteract the toxin.
A question worth asking is what sort of quality control did the plant that manufactured the gluten have in place? Then, what sort of controls did Menu have?
It appears aminopterin is difficult to detect, or may not be among the usual list of things assayed in a food item. It took a lab at Cornell University to find the culprit. One wonders what quality controls are in place to prevent such an occurrence in human food.
Has the cat become the canary?
More animal deaths are expected, but at least veterinarians now know what toxin they are dealing with. It seems large doses of folic acid will help counteract the toxin.
A question worth asking is what sort of quality control did the plant that manufactured the gluten have in place? Then, what sort of controls did Menu have?
It appears aminopterin is difficult to detect, or may not be among the usual list of things assayed in a food item. It took a lab at Cornell University to find the culprit. One wonders what quality controls are in place to prevent such an occurrence in human food.
Has the cat become the canary?
