A year of feed scares
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Forget about 2008 being the Year of the Rat in Chinese astrology. Last year had so many food scares it's a wonder how any rat, human or other animal emerged unscathed.
During 2008, melamine, a chemical linked to the death of several cats, was turning up in everything from baby food to chocolate. Then, late last year, some Irish hog producers learned their feed mixes contained dioxin, a proven cancer risk. A rendering plant that produced one of the feed's ingredients was to blame.
Ireland recalled all pork products.
It is doling out $235 US million, and the European Union $20 US million, to bolster the industry.
Inhabitants of the Emerald Isle need not worry that others might change their sparkly moniker to the Dioxin Isle. The European Food Safety Authority says there was no real risk to consumers.
On the Irish home front, consumers appear to be as eager for their pork as they are for their Guinness, lining up outside butcher shops on the first day pork products were cleared for sale.