FSIS Orders Testing of Retail Meat and Poultry

The FSIS issued a notice today ordering investigators from three departments to collect samples of processed food items such as baby food, meatballs and sausages for melamine testing. For more details about the sampling plan, the investigator's duties, as well as a list of examples of common milk-derived ingredients, see the notice.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/97-08.pdf

I think this is a step in the right direction, as long as there is transparency in the process and results are publicized. More testing of meat and poultry (animal tissue) needs to be done, as well. Some testing was done last year when it was determined that pigs and other animals were eating melamine tainted animal feed. Some animals made it to channels of trade and others were held back. I think it's pretty safe to assume that melamine has not been removed from animal feed since last year. Therefore testing of animal feed, needs to be done as well. Fertilizer too. Non-dairy ingredients such as vegetable proteins and chemical preservatives also need further scrutiny. Melamine could very well be in many more ingredients than previously thought, and knowledge of just how widespread the situation is could help us shore up the safety of our food supply. It might take years, but the FSIS notice indicates that the scope of melamine contamination is being taken seriously.