FDA Tells Congress Food Containing Melamine Poses Low Risk to Humans

WASHINGTON — Assistant Administrator for the Office of Field Operations Dr. Kenneth Petersen and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection Dr. David Acheson testified before the House Agriculture Committee May 9 concerning the continuing investigation into imported wheat flour that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds.

FSIS and FDA announced May 7 the results of tests showing a very low risk from consuming meat from hogs and chickens that consumed pet food scraps that contained small amounts of melamine.

The study also found that:

• for individuals who consume large amounts of the specified foods, the level of consumption is 18,000 to 30,000 times lower than the level considered safe
• if melamine were present in all the solid food eaten by an individual every day, the amount of melamine consumed still is approximately 2,500 times lower than the level considered safe
• melamine is not metabolized, and is rapidly excreted in the urine. Thus, it is not believed to accumulate in the body of animals.

In light of the assessment and tests results available for contaminated feed, FSIS released poultry being held on farms that were suspected of receiving contaminated feed but where the feed tested negative for melamine and related compounds.

The risk assessment was conducted by scientists from FSIS, FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The agencies conducted the risk assessment as one science-based component of the continuing joint investigation into imported wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate from China. Testing and the joint investigation continue.

In the most extreme risk assessment scenario, scientists assumed that all the solid food a person would eat in a day contained melamine. Even under that extreme scenario, the potential exposure was about 2,500 times lower than the level considered safe.

The risk assessment team is also conducting an animal exposure assessment and developing tests able to detect melamine in the tissue of hogs and chickens.

Based on additional scientific information, FSIS will determine how to proceed with the other livestock still being held on farms, approximately 100,000 breeder chickens and about 56,000 swine.

FDA and USDA are having scientists review the human health risk assessment. This group will also be asked to contribute to future scientific analysis related to the risk of melamine and its compounds to humans and animals.