[USCC] Recalled Pet Food

Fri Apr 20 14:42:22 CDT 2007

The FDA has not confirmed the presence of rodenticide, so it is probably
reasonable to assume that rodenticide is not an issue. The chemical that
is associated with all of the animal deaths is melamine, an ingredient
used to make melamine plastic. The plastic is not an issue - we all have
used melamine plastic dinnerware for at least 50 years. The monomer,
melamine is another story. It has been isolated in all the suspect feed
that has been analyzed, and crystals have been found in the kidneys of
mortalities. For the moment, I have seen no studies on the degradation
products of this chemical. I would strongly urge caution until the
scientific community has been able to investigate. It would be tragic to
find that a composter had made a wonderful material only to find that it
is a hazardous waste.

Don Lewis
Compost Coordinator
Maryland Department of Agriculture

>>> <epsteinee at comcast.net> 4/17/2007 11:40 AM >>>
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
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> service for environmental, food and agricultural industry
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> Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com 
> 
> _______________________________________ 
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> 
> Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the
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> Board of Directors. 
> 
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its
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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 