Aflatoxin Corn Given the Ok by FDA and USDA - Page 1

Deadly aflatoxin contaminated corn in two states have been given the ok by federal authorities to be mixed with non-contaminated corn and fed to animals, another state has applied for approval.  Here’s the risks ignored by federal authorities – risks to both humans and animals. (Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska)

From the FDA website “Aflatoxins are toxic by-products of mold growth on certain agricultural commodities.  Since their discovery in the early 1960′s, aflatoxins have been shown to be carcinogenic to laboratory test animals.”

Numerous pet food recalls in the past have been due to high aflatoxin levels.  The deadliest in 2005 by Diamond Pet Food – the most recent less than a year ago byCargill Animal Nutrition.

FDA allows human food to contain less than 20 parts per billion (ppb) aflatoxin, however some animal foods are allowed to contain up to 300 ppb (in corn for feedlot beef cattle).  Pet foods must contain less than 20 ppb.

It appears that the FDA/USDA are allowing the aflatoxin contaminated grains to be fed to livestock only, with the exception of dairy animals (dairy cows fed aflatoxin contaminated grains have been linked to high levels of aflatoxin in the milk – posing a risk to human health).  However there is no guarantee to this; Nebraska testing of corn showed almost 70 percent of 2,000 samples tested positive for aflatoxins.  With the high rate of infected corn this year, any pet product (or human product) that contains corn could be of risk...................

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/aflatoxin-corn-given-the-ok-by-fda-and-usda/

Thank you for posting this. I makes  you wonder who the FDA is working for; US citizens or the
corn and other industries. There must be a degree of contamination in meat & eggs as well, so what can you feed without worry?

Human grade raw meat...... Wow, that does not sound good at all.

no, is doesn't.

If most of the corn is contaminated, then simply change the acceptable limit. So the word acceptable is meaningless.

The drought has caused the mold problem. 70 percent is a large number to waste, so isn't it obvious? The thought that they hope to "cut" the bad with the good, though..... just sounds sooooo wrong.  I guess the thought is, it is better to feed the cattle with the hope that it will be good enough and then the crop won't be wasted. 

It is the states that want FDA leniency..... so the farmer's clearly don't want to burn their crops, they'd prefer to profit. 

The raw meat and egg connection doesn't make sense to me, this is a toxic by-product of mold due to the drought. The cattle eating the contaminated corn, has studies showing it is a carcinogen as a side result, don't see how this affects the humans. We do have beef inspectors, yes? If all the cattle are sick, then that would be a problem. Not sure where the eggs come in with that theory, either. 

Bee, I have seen cancer cows go through for human consumption.. A little bonus for the inspector, and he didn't see the cow's eye eat up with cancer:-/

"We do have beef inspectors, yes?"

You might want to study and determine the actual percentage that are actually inspected.
Might be shocking.

40% of our corn production is mandated (ordered) to create ethanol.......just food for thought.....

The ethanol thing is why the price of animal feed is exorbitant and therefor food prices are crazy. why doesn't the USDA and FDA mandate the aflatoxin corn for ethanol and clean corn for feed/food? Ethanol is a HUGE waste of money any way you look at it: Low octane, so you have to refuel more frequently, screws up carburetors in small engines, has short shelf life, farm land taken up for fuel instead of food. Just to name a few.

why doesn't the USDA and FDA mandate the aflatoxin corn for ethanol and clean corn for feed/food?


Because that makes perfect sense.... why break with tradition and suddenly do the right thing for those your suppose to be protecting. We might want to think about grounding up the FDA and feeding it the animals and least their last act would be beneficial.