[USCC] Recalled Pet Food

Fri Apr 20 08:06:18 CDT 2007

 Sharon and Eliot, 

 The toxic substance in the pet food is melamine. The term "melamine" is also (inaccurately) used to denote melamine resin, a plastic material made from melamine by polymerization. According to Wikipedia, Melamine is a strong organic base with the chemical formula C3H6N6, with the IUPAC name 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. It is only slightly soluble in water.

  Melamine, dicyandiamide (or cyanoguanidine) and cyanamide are related. The first is considered the trimer and the second the dimer of the third. Melamine is a metabolite of cyromazine, a pesticide. It is formed in the body of mammals who have ingested cyromazine. It was also reported that cyromazine is converted to melamine in plants.

 On 30 March 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration reported finding white granular melamine in the pet food, in samples of white granular wheat gluten imported from China, as well as in crystalline form in the kidneys and in urine of affected animals[12]. The presence of melamine has not been conclusively linked to the deaths of animals, as this chemical was previously thought to be relatively non-toxic at low doses. The FDA has blocked importation of wheat gluten from a Chinese supplier, pending completion of its investigation. Melamine when heated causes the loss of nitrogen, leaving guanidine, a muscle stimulant used as a pharmaceutical and ammonia, a poison.[citation needed] The reported symptoms of the animals conform to those of ammonia poisoning.

 Additional information can be found at:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine 

 Hope this helps,
 David Hill

 -----Original Message-----
 From: epsteinee at comcast.net
 To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
 Sent: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:40 AM
 Subject: Re: [USCC] Recalled Pet Food

  Participate in the Annual International Compost Awareness Week May  
6, 2007 to May 12, 2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931
Hi Sharon,

I would expect that most or all of the compounds would be degraded in composting 
and would no impact the product. Is there any way to find out what the compounds 
were? My understanding it was rat poison and plastic. The rat poison would 
degrade, the plastic may or may not partially degrade.

Eliot 

--
Eliot Epstein 
19 Preston Place 
North Easton, MA 02356 
Tel: 508-238-1931 
Cell: 781-603-7151 
E-mail: epsteinee at comcast.net

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "SharonBarnes" <slbarnes at barnesnursery.com> 

> Participate in the Annual International Compost Awareness Week May 
> 6, 2007 to May 12, 2007 
> 
> This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!" 
> 
> For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25 
> 
> Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931 
> Hi to all 
> 
> 
> 
> I have had an inquiry about composting recalled pet food. Will the 
> contaminants in the products cause residual issues in the resulting compost? 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sharon 
> 
> 
> 
> Sharon Barnes 
> 
> Barnes Nursery, Inc. 
> 
> 3511 Cleveland Road West 
> 
> Huron, OH 44839 
> 
> P 419-433-5525 
> 
> 800-421-8722 
> 
> F 419-433-3555 
> 
> www.barnesnursery.com 
> 
> 
> 
> Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com 
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 
> 
> This month's sponsor of the USCC Discussion List is: 
> 
> Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy e-mail 
alert 
> service for environmental, food and agricultural industry professionals. 
> Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com 
> 
> _______________________________________ 
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC). 
> (c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights reserved 
> 
> Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or 
the 
> Board of Directors. 
> 
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website at: 

> http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm 
> 
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their 
posting 
> privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and information regarding 
> subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to: 
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 
> 
> For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a 
> message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org 
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

This month's sponsor of the USCC Discussion List is:

Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy e-mail alert 
service for environmental, food and agricultural industry professionals.
Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or the 
Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website at: 
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their posting 
privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and information regarding 
subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to: http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a 
message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org

________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.