Time To Test Egg Quality (And What About Results of FSIS 97-08?)

Lately I've been wondering why there hasn't been any talk about testing more products for melamine, including eggs. I know some testing is currently underway for meat, meat products like hot dogs and milk products, but why not eggs? When I spoke to Norco farms a few months ago, a spokesperson assured me that there was no melamine in the feed used to feed the animals that producs the eggs labeled "organic" however, he was pretty certain there was melamine in the feed fed to the birds that produced the eggs that receive no organic designation. There was concern in China over tainted eggs. The feed used here in the U.S., and around the world, is known to contain melamine - it's a binding agent. Why isn't anyone testing eggs for melamine contamination and if they are, what is the status of such testing?

Traceability in the Food Supply Chain and More Melamine...

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has found melamine in Fortuna brand sugar crackers. How much melamine is unknown at this point. The tainted product was found at Dragon Star market in St. Paul. Customers are urged to throw out any of these crackers that they may have purchased.

If only we could throw out all the regulations that prevent the public from knowing the source of their food. The Fortuna crackers are reported to have been imported to the U.S. by an Indonesian company. But that's probably all we'll know about the crackers. According to a federal report released today, the government conducted tests to determine the effectiveness of the existing tracing system and food supply chain for 40 food items, and determined that most records of what went where and when were woefully light on detail.

The link to the FULL REPORT can be found by clicking here.

Or cut and paste this into your browser.

http://www.oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-06-00210.pdf

Osteoblast Milk Protein?

I posted information about Danone milk powder earlier today only to read an update a few hour from the AP indicating that the "unapproved protein additive" in Danone's milk powder sold in China has been found to be "OMP" or Osteoblast Milk Protein. This product is not approved for use in China, nor by the FDA in the US. Marion Nestle is already on top of it and has commented at Food Politics.

Milk Powder Investigated in China

Milk Powder from Dumex, a subsidiary of France's Group Danone SA, is under investigation in China for using an "unapproved protein additive". Officials are specifically focusing on whether or not the additive is melamine. Mengniu Dairy Group Co. is also under similar investigation.

"Complete Review" of FDA Ordered

President Obama has ordered a review of the FDA in light of several recent cases of food contamination and safety issues, which included melamine-tainted pet food and infant formula.