The spread of the contaminated products into the human food chain is confusing. On May 8, 2007, there were reports that chickens fed with the unsafe, recalled pet food were safe for human consumption:

“”There is very low risk to human health” from consuming the chickens, according to a synopsis of the findings released by the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration.”

link: FDA: Chickens fed tainted pet food are safe to eat

Previously, on May 5, the news was that chickens were being held back from the market:

“…Three government agencies — the Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency — are overseeing a risk assessment to determine whether the chickens would pose a threat to human health if eaten, USDA spokesman Keith Williams said. The assessment may be completed as early as Monday.”

link: Officials order 20 million chickens held from market

The change in position was made because the food was determined to be a low risk:

“…Based on the testing, the government lifted a quarantine on nearly all of the 20 million chickens who were held from market last week after the feed contamination was discovered. Those animals now may be slaughtered and enter the food supply.”

link: Low Risk to Humans Seen in Animal Feed

What exactly does “low risk” mean? It certainly does not mean ‘no risk’. - If the food product was deemed unsafe for dogs and cats, would you feed it to your child - no matter how diluted it was?

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: chickens, human food, risk, security, fda, cats, dogs