Hogs that ate melamine safe for humans to eat

Release the hogs!

Word came Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that hogs suspected of eating feed containing melamine are safe for human consumption and may be released to market, and that their owners will be compensated for having kept them out of the market until now. That includes about 2,500 hogs on hold at four northern Utah farms.

"This is excellent news," said Larry Lewis, spokesman for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. "It's long-awaited and helps four Utah businesspeople remain in business and market their products."

About 56,000 hogs had been on hold or under quarantine in seven states: California, Illinois, Kansas, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah. About 100 million swine are slaughtered annually in the United States.

About 80,000 chickens are on hold in Indiana, along with about 50 birds in Utah. Two fish farms, in Hawaii and Washington, also are holding their fish, which may have received tainted food from a Canadian plant that imported feed components from China.

Used to make plastic utensils and, apparently, to boost the protein content in certain pet foods, melamine was linked to the deaths of an unknown number of dogs and cats. In March, Menu Foods Ltd. recalled more than 60 million pet-food cans and pouches. The hog hold was initiated in April, followed by the hens and fish. Scientists are still working to create a melamine test for birds and fish.

On Tuesday, Kenneth Peterson, assistant administrator for field operations at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said scientists now have a validated test to check for melamine in swine.

"Testing confirms that meat from swine fed rations supplemented with pet-food scraps containing melamine and related compounds is safe for human consumption," Peterson said. "Therefore, it is no longer necessary for these swine to be held on farms. They can be safely sent for further processing."

Melamine doesn't accumulate in pork and is filtered out of the pig's body by the kidneys, Peterson said. Even if consumed, he said, there is a very low risk to humans. For example, a 130-pound person would have to eat more than 800 pounds of melamine-contaminated food to experience adverse effects, he said.

Producers, including the four Utah farmers, will receive compensation for the costs incurred during the quarantine, said L. Earl Rogers, Utah state veterinarian.